Tim Martin, founder of Weatherspoon Pub, has claimed that the government’s 10 a.m. curfew is a public relations exercise whose reports will see some places ignore the rules.
Mr Martin said pubs were not behind the increase in infections and the government was imposing a 10 a.m. shutdown on pub and rest restaurant rentals to do something about it.
Sacha Lord, a nighttime economy adviser at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said some locations would revolt and ignore the curfew because they were facing bankruptcy, otherwise when they expected an ‘explosion’ at house parties.
Mr Martin, who founded the Mr Waterspoon pub chain, told PA: “I think the government is out of touch and out of control.
“Most people think about pubs, visions from their youth, people dancing, loud music and strict behavior.
“Most pubs are not like that and there are no pubs when it comes to social distance.
“Why did they do that?
“The only thing I can think of is that there should be statistics for pubs, very few figures for broadcasting, so what they have done is for PR reasons.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“Curfew is a bad idea because the pub has a relatively low level of broadcasting at the moment.”
Of the 810 Waterspoons pubs last week, 810 had an infection and all 40 pubs were operating and there were reports of only one infection, he said.
Mr Martin said only hand washing and social distance proved to work against the virus infection and asked parliament to “handle the charge” to discuss the way forward, with MPs pointing out how Sweden is coping with the epidemic.
He added: “Other things like the moonshot, the circuit break and the six rule, and now the curfew, are not scientifically proven to work.”
Mr Lord, co-founder of several major music events in Europe, including the Warehouse Project and the Parklife Festival in Manchester, said the “stuck woman” would end when pubs and bars closed at the same time.
“I expect it to return to your llnt’s traditional ring at 10 a.m. from the quarter and the doors will close at 10 p.m.
“From what I’m hearing, I’ve talked to some tors paraters, look at them with a rebellious look, go bust or take a chance and don’t stick to the curfew.
“These operators are facing bankruptcy.
“Two people have said, ‘We’re going to bust. They can try to squeeze out half an hour or an hour from the curfew, which I don’t like.’
“We have the highest number of students in Europe (in Manchester).
“This will obviously cause upheaval in the House parties.
“Students will not leave pubs and bars and will sit in bed at 10 p.m.
“It’s time to kick in at 10pm. I don’t think you’ll see crime and disorder but an explosion of house parties.”
Mr Lord, appointed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham in 2018 as a nighttime economy adviser to the regions, said the hospitality industry still had a population of 900,000, the UK’s fifth largest industry employing more than three million people nationwide. Is. And supports 420,000 jobs in Greater Manchester alone.
“Many are scared for their jobs this morning,” he said.
“Today it seems that the sector is on its knees.
“I understand that safety has to come first, but I don’t think it’s very well thought out.”
Mr Lord said the government had done some “great work” to help the hospitality sector but needed further support from the Furlo plan by the end of next month, citing expanded government support for hospitality in France and Spain.
He added: “Chancellor Shishu Sunak said he would stand by the business, it seems now, and it’s not just me saying this, he feels he’s turning his back on it.”