Mojo bar bans MPs as it backs national Cancel the Curfew campaign to scrap 10pm closure rule

Mojo, in Merrion Street, is refusing to serve any Member of Parliament until the Government either calls off the curfew or provides financial assistance to the industry.

The other sites in Harrogate, Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool will also be refusing service.

It comes less than a week after pubs, bars and restaurants across England were forced to close by 10pm under tough restrictions announced by Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister said the strict measures were put in place in a bid to curb the rapid rise in coronavirus cases.

However, Martin Greenhow, Managing Director of Mojo, has joined forces with other leaders in the hospitality industry to back a nationwide #cancelthecurfew campaign.

Explaining the move to ban MPs from his venues, Mr Greenhow told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "We would never want to turn anyone away but if they won't serve us, we won't serve them.

"They hold all the power but there is an awful lot of us. We encourage everybody, every worker in hospitality, to share our campaign and make the same statement."

He added: "We know this move is a bit off the wall but anything that affects three million plus jobs is of incredible importance.

"Given the amount of pain our industry has taken, I think we can cope with losing 650 customers.

"Quite frankly, who wouldn't like to see Boris Johnson kicked out of his local or a restaurant at some point on the news?"

The #cancelthecurfew campaign has sent a joint statement to the Prime Minister, warning that the move to implement a 10pm curfew could be the "final nail in the coffin" for an already struggling industry.

In an open letter to Mr Johnson, campaigners said: "Our industry is dying and the 10pm curfew may be the final nail in the coffin.

"Up and down the country, our pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants, music venues, theatres, event spaces and all other businesses that fall under the hospitality industry’s umbrella are teetering on the edge.

"Some are suffering death by a thousand cuts, while others have been ignored and left to starve.

"If nothing changes then hundreds of thousands of people will lose their jobs, thousands of businesses will close their doors forever, billions of pounds of tax income will be lost, and the hospitality industry will never be the same again."

It continued: "Restaurants, pubs, bars, and everyone in between have spent thousands to become COVID-Secure. To open safely many have taken on debt despite the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over them.

"A 10pm curfew drives the public from the safe environment of our venues and into areas with no regulations.

"From 10pm people flood the streets as seen over the weekend, overwhelming public transport and taxis, and begin to filter back to their living rooms and kitchens for “one more drink”.

"We are not asking for unlimited handouts. We are asking to open our doors. To be allowed to do what we do best whilst keeping our staff and customers safe.

"We are asking for your permission to keep the hospitality industry alive."

Mr Greenhow added: "With neither evidence to support the assumption that hospitality is driving infection – only 35 cases reported in the sector and as of yet no sign of the threatened dramatic upturn in deaths, the move to curtail the operational hours of our already crippled industry seems unjust and punitive, not to mention illogical and irrational.

"Are people more infectious after 10pm?

"Hospitality has slaved to work responsibly within the constraints laid out for us and now we are being thrown aside with scant concern for the impact these measures will have on our businesses and the wider economy."

The movement starts this week by asking hospitality leaders, operators, employees, and anyone with a love for the hospitality industry to share the #CANCELTHECURFEW images on their social media platforms.

Campaigners are then following up with a silent protest and social media “thunderclap” at 10pm on Saturday, October 3 this week with venues and workers all over the country standing outside their venues and posting images of this on their social media.

-> Leeds city centre bar manager says 10pm closing rule will 'devastate' businesses