Fears for hospitality industry as Tier 3 restrictions confirmed for Greater Manchester

Local leaders and business owners have spoken of their fears for the hospitality industry after it was confirmed Greater Manchester will come under tougher new Tier 3 restrictions when national lockdown ends.

The new rules – which come into force from 2 December – mean that pubs and restaurants will have to remain closed, although they will still be allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services.
 

Read more: Rochdale borough placed into Tier 3 restrictionsPublished: 26 November 2020

It is yet more worrying news for the sector, which has taken a huge financial hit during the pandemic.

Reacting to the government’s decision – and what it means for Rochdale – Tom McNeeney, of the Lancashire Hospitality Co-operation which runs a number of local pubs and a catering company in Rochdale, said: “It’s hard because we’re constantly faced with this dilemma: as much as we want to be open, as much as we believe hospitality is by and large safer than a lot of other places you can go and interact with others, we also have to bear in mind that this is a virus that is killing people.

“When we look at the bigger picture, the challenges we’re facing seem almost impossible, they really do, but how can we look someone in the eye who’s lost a loved one and say, ‘but what about us?’

“The grim reality of this situation makes it so very, very different to anything we ever faced.

“It’s frustrating, yes. We’re emotional, yes. Do we feel like our sector is being victimised? A thousand times, yes. But we have been dealt a hand and it’s down to us to do what we can with it.

“We’ll double down on takeaways, we’ll keep finding new and better ways to make people’s lockdown more bearable; we’ll try our best to keep trying our best.

“There will be a time to be furious, a time to ask for reviews and investigations into how it’s all been handled, but right now we owe it to our staff and this town to put all our energy into keeping our heads above water.

“That’s what we intend to do; devote every last shred of our passion and ingenuity into adapting and overcoming.”

 

 

Becky O’Neill, who runs Busy Beans Café in Littleborough with her husband, Danny, said: “It's a strange one really. It seems like hospitality is being penalised, despite all of the extra safety measures we have put in place to adhere to regulations. I understand there is a bigger picture, but we can't help but feel targeted.

“A lot of our customers come to us to escape, to offload and to maintain a healthy mindset. We're really missing being able to offer that. We are still working, as luckily our home kitchen is registered therefore we are able to still bake tasty treats.

“We fall into that ‘forgotten’ category like many other self-employed, we haven't been able to claim for the SEISS grant due to not meeting the government's requirements. But Rochdale Council has been great throughout and Carol Hopkins at Rochdale Development Agency has been an absolute star, keeping us in the loop for any grants we might get.

“Then there's the trailer, where it all started [Busy Beans began as a mobile coffee service in 2015]. Every single one of our events has been cancelled through to next summer. There isn't any support to help us with that either.

“We're literally surviving off the income from our bakes.”

Rochdale council leader Councillor Allen Brett said his main concern was for the hospitality industry and businesses which depend on it.

He said: “What I want is more detail and are they going to continue to give support to all the businesses that are affected, especially hospitality?

“Hospitality is what I’m most worried about. 

“I visited a manufacturing firm that makes equipment for the hospitality industry and they have already cut their workforce from 18 to nine.

“They do a lot of work for Mitchells and Butlers and Young’s in London and have had to halve the workforce over the last few months.”

 

Paul Ambrose, manager of Rochdale BID, said: “Whilst the news that Rochdale is placed within Tier 3 comes as no surprise, I remain hopeful that as the infection rate reduces the town will move into Tier 2 in two weeks’ times.

“The new Tier 3 will no doubt hit the hospitality businesses the hardest as they will have to stay closed except for takeaway and delivery services. In the run up to Christmas this is devastating for them and to weather a difficult winter ahead, I urge the government to provide greater support to the hospitality industry.

“I would like to remind all business operators in Rochdale Town Centre that the BID is here, we are open, and we are ready to help you get through these difficult coming weeks.  Please do get in in touch if you think we can help.

“Finally, I would urge everyone to support local businesses where they can over the coming weeks, whether that’s by visiting the town centre, ordering online or getting takeaway food and drinks among other things. Your custom could really help make the difference in ensuring your favourite shops and businesses are here for the long run.”

The decision to place Greater Manchester into Tier 3 – which has the most stringent restrictions – was announced by health secretary Matt Hancock in the House of Commons on Thursday morning (26 November).

Despite falling infection levels across Greater Manchester – with two boroughs now below the England average – Councillor Brett said he was ‘not surprised’ by the news.

But he wants a clear road-map for how Rochdale and the rest of the region gets out of Tier 3 and into more relaxed restrictions.

“I will accept it, but we need to be given parameters of when we come out – what’s the level to come out of Tier 3 into Tier 2 and then into Tier 1,” he said.

Rochdale’s coronavirus infection rate fell by 31% during the week to November 21. It now stands at 360.6 per 100,000 people, compared to the England average of 208.7.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter

Additional reporting: Rochdale Online