Shropshire business leader calls for 'constant' review of Covid tier restrictions

Mandy Thorn, chair of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, said she was not surprised that Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin had been placed in Tier 2, and that it was vital the restrictions are under constant review.

“The Government had made it clear in the run up to this announcement that very few areas would be placed under the lowest level of restrictions so businesses across the Marches were largely expecting this decision," she said.

“But even though the Marches is not in the highest tier, our business community will continue to face significant challenges in the run up to Christmas and will require ongoing help and support from the Government."

Under Tier 2 rules, from December 2 pubs and bars may open only if they are operating as restaurants.

Alcohol may be served in pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants but only as part of a substantial meal.

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“It does mean that pubs and bars which serve meals should be able to reopen but is another blow to those which do not. Our hospitality sector has been particularly hard hit throughout this pandemic and the sooner we are in a position to allow all pubs and bars to reopen safely the better," Mandy said.

“The LEP is working with all our partners to mitigate the impact of the pandemic as much as we can through a strategic programme of business support, investment in skills and infrastructure, the creation of green jobs and a low carbon economy and the ongoing work of the Marches Growth Hub.

“We will continue to press the Government to keep these restrictions under constant review and give all businesses time to react to any further changes it may introduce.”

Seb Slater, executive director of Business Improvement District, said: "I know retailers are really looking forward to reopening in December, and we are working with our partners in the Shrewsbury Recovery Taskforce to reinforce the message that safety is the number one priority, with measures to enable social distancing being reintroduced.

"Being in Tier 2 will be a big blow to many of our hospitality businesses, and we will continue to ensure they have access to the very latest information about what support is available to them."

Craft beer and eatery chain, Craft & Jam, owns six pubs, restaurants and guest houses across Shropshire.

Rebecca McGuire, managing director, said: “The second lockdown came as a big shock to the hospitality industry, as there was such a low transmission rate within the sector and we had put so much hard work into operating our businesses in a safe and secure way. One of our biggest concerns, as I’m sure was the case for many in the industry, was the huge amount of perishable stock loss once again.

“As we had been through the shutdown procedure before, we knew the process, but the lack of Government support during these unprecedented times has brought about a real strain for many of us.

“Hospitality has taken a huge hit and we face a very uncertain few months ahead. As a brand we pride ourselves on our high standards and work hard to ensure our guests feel welcomed and relaxed whilst staying safe. One of the biggest challenges for us is the unpredictability of sales and the uncertainty that lies ahead. However, despite everything, we remain optimistic."