More pubs hit by curfew measures

By Emily Hawkins

- Last updated on GMT

Last orders: more pubs will be ordered to close earlier in a fresh set of local measures covering large parts of England.
Last orders: more pubs will be ordered to close earlier in a fresh set of local measures covering large parts of England.

Related tags Lancashire North England lockdown Coronavirus Legislation Health and safety

Further restrictions have been announced for parts of north west England, the Midlands and West Yorkshire to curb rising coronavirus cases.

In some parts of the country, households will be banned from socialising in private homes or gardens.

These measures will be enforced from Tuesday 22 September.

In Merseyside, Warrington, Halton and Lancashire, residents must not socialise with other households in private homes and gardens. 

Curfews

Hospitality will be restricted to table service only and all pubs ordered to close between 10pm and 5am. 

The restrictions will apply to Preston, Lancaster, Wyre, Fylde, Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Ribble Valley, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Pendle, Hyndburn and Rossendale.

Some 1,027 pubs and 481 restaurants will be affected by the curfew according to real estate adviser Altus Group.

The move to restrict late night operating hours in these areas echoes localised restrictions seen in Wales and north east England this week​.

Some 1,553 pubs and 797 restaurants will be subject to a curfew in the North East.

These measures exclude Blackpool and Greater Manchester.

Residents in these areas have also been advised to only use public transport for making essential journeys.

Socialising bans

In Wolverhampton and Oadby and Wigston, people will also be banned from socialising with other households in private homes and gardens.

The same restriction applies to all parts of Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, with residents banned from socialising with people outside of their own households or support bubbles in private settings. 

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said the move came after "seeing cases of coronavirus rise fast" in these areas and local leaders calling for action.

He added: "I know these restrictions will make everyday life harder for many, but I know that residents will work together and respect the rules so we can reduce rates of transmission."

Leading voices in the pub sector have called for further financial support to protect jobs​ including extension the existing furlough scheme beyond October.

Delicate moment

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) called for more Government support.

She said: “Our data suggests that a third of pubs are still struggling to even break even which indicates that we are at a very delicate moment in our sector’s recovery. Consumer confidence is already very fragile and extra restrictions will inevitably have a further cooling effect on that, not only in the regions where they are in effect but also nationally."

“It is vital that the Government recognises the unprecedented challenges that pubs and brewers are facing at this time."

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