A bit of information on what will happen post lockdown, from the 2nd December, has started coming out of government and hitting the media.

MPs are due to be briefed on Monday when we will find out what the updated tier system will look like with the word being things could be a bit tighter than before, with an announcement on which tier each area will fall into on Thursday.

It has also been mentioned that the 10pm curfew imposed on pubs and restaurants will become a 10pm last orders, with people given until 11pm to finish their food and drink before the premises is required to be closed.

This isn’t looking great for pubs, this is disappointing as we continue to believe that a well run pub in line with Covid-Secure guidelines is the safest place to socialise.

Traditionally December – Christmas party season – is the busiest time for pubs and for many pubs the money made in December is needed to survive the typically quiet January so if pubs cannot open or are allowed only very restricted trading in the run up to Christmas this could cause a lot of pubs to go out of business and close without increased government support.

Prior to the second national lockdown, which came into force on 5th November, Dronfield was in tier 2 where households could mix outdoors (max group size 6 people) but not indoors whilst next door in Sheffield it was tier 3 with no household mixing and pubs could only serve alcohol with a meal.

Reports suggest in the updated tier 3 pubs and restaurants will be restricted to takeaway only whilst in tier 2 alcohol will only be available with a meal. This will basically mean outside tier 1 the majority of pubs will be closed.