Owner of South Shields' Sea Hotel claims new restrictions could be 'devastating' for industry

Gary Forrest, chairman of the High Street Group, which owns the Sea Hotel in South Shields, has hit out at the new measures confirmed by health secretary Matt Hancock on Thursday.

The new rules, which it is hoped can stop a resurgence of the virus and avoid the need for another full lockdown, include a 10pm curfew for all hospitality venues and restrict them to table service only.

Residents have also been advised not to socialise with anyone outside their household or social bubble in any public venue, though that will not be banned under law.

The changes will come into force on Friday in Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham.

Mr Forrest, whose firm operates a total of 20 venues across the North East, slammed what he called a “distinct lack of clarity” in the new guidance and said it had been done “without due consideration and discussion” with businesses.

He said: “If you follow the letter of what Matt Hancock said in his statement and not mix with those outside your household it will have a devastating effect on the hospitality industry.

“There is a distinct lack of clarity. How difficult is it to give some clarity and communicate whether you can socialise with friends and family at a table service-only restaurant?

“The country needs a long-term strategy. At the moment everything is reactive and just short term measures, and this is a perfect example of that.

“We have a lot of hospitality venues across the North East and we received notification of this two days ago.”

He added: “All our staff, management team and everyone connected to the business has been working really long hours with sleepless nights to work out how we keep the business moving forward and ride this storm.

“This sort of action, without due consideration and discussion with operators, it just beggars belief.”

As well as the Sea Hotel in South Shields, High Street Group runs the Bar 52 venues, the Purple Peacock in Newcastle – and is also behind the Hadrian’s Tower development in Newcastle.

Mr Forrest says more should have been done before the new measures were imposed to clamp down on any venues ignoring the Covid safety rules.

He added: “I am no scientist, but what I do know is that we have been operating table service and social distancing across all our restaurants and bars since we reopened. We’ve managed, even with those in place, to create an ambience for friends and family to socialise together safely.

“In all that time we are yet to have a visit from anybody inspecting whether we are doing things in the correct manner.”

He added: “One of the options that could have been done as a test base is having a lot more random inspections and those that fail are shut down and those of us that are passing the tests, and working incredibly hard to implement all the measures the government has asked us to do and are enforcing them, can stay open.

“That would have had a bigger effect earlier in the process and could have helped control any outbreak.”

Mr Hancock said that the government had taken “swift action” after local councils requested tighter restrictions on Monday.

He added: “We do not take these decisions lightly but I know the people of the North East will work together and break the chains of transmission.

“I urge those from affected areas: please, get a test if you are symptomatic, stay at home if you are required to self-isolate, and think: hands, face, space. This is the only way for us to return to a more normal way of life and avoid further restrictions.”

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