Popular Leeds Briggate Hedonist bar owner said government has "bottled" decision to lockdown

Bruce Lerman is the co-owner of Hedonist on Briggate, Leeds.

Pubs will be forced to close at 10pm from Thursday, Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday, as part of a bid to drive down the rising cases of coronavirus across the country.

The Prime Minister addressed the nation at 8pm on Tuesday evening to outline new measures, including pubs and restaurants closing early, and the hospitality sector being restricted by law to table service only.

Mr Lerman said that he felt "putting the breaks on an already suffering industry" was a "bitter pill to swallow" following the latest announcement.

However, he said if the government had made the "difficult decision of locking down the industry" for a small period of time, it would have enabled bar owners like himself to "plan staffing and look at stock levels and plan accordingly".

He said: "I feel something needs to be said around the government's decision to put a 10pm curfew on the entire hospitality industry across England.

"Whilst I completely appreciate the need for public safety during this difficult time, I do feel putting the brakes on an already suffering industry is a bitter pill to swallow, as not only is consumer confidence already low it is going to reduce the already low footfall may city centres were already feeling.

"The government has bottled making the even more difficult decision of locking down the industry for a small period of time.

"At least if they would have made that decision, it would have enabled us to have proactive conversations with our landlords, allow us to plan staffing and look at our stock levels and plan accordingly.

"Instead many city centres are now going to become a danger zone at 10pm as every bar in the city boots potentially 1000s of people onto the street, therefore meaning stress on taxi and takeaway services, surely the government realise why 20 years ago they adapted licensing law to allow to ease stress on other night time economies.

"To all my friends and colleagues in the hospitality, and of course all my friends in the forgotten events sector, we will come out stronger together, this is just another speed bump we need to overcome!"

Another popular Leeds bar is introducing earlier opening times as the Government imposes a curfew on the hospitality sector.

Distrikt, an underground bar on Duncan Street, had just yesterday announced new opening times of 4pm to 2am on Wednesday to Friday and 2pm to 2am on Saturday.

The venue will open earlier from Thursday with the "usual entertainment" to help the business stay afloat as it adjusts to the new curfew.

Manager Rosita Rogers made the announcement in a Facebook post and said: "We will be opening earlier - which means whatever you wanted to do at 10pm, you can do all day long, the usual entertainment will he provided

"Please make sure you keep supporting your independents as this isn't going to help at all, it's only going to cause serious damage."

The New Headingley Club, a sports bar on St Michael's Road, has also adapted its opening hours to the new restrictions.

The bar will open its doors from 2pm on weekdays and 12pm on Saturday and Sunday.

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Thank you

Laura Collins