Wakefield landlord 'hoping for the best' as new pub restrictions come into force

New restrictions on pub opening hours could be “quite damaging” for city centre bars and pubs, a landlord has said.

The rules, which come into force tonight, require all pubs, bars, restaurants and leisure facilities selling food and drink to close between 10pm and 5am.

In licensed premises, food and drink must be ordered from, and served at, a table, and customers must wear face masks at all times when they are not seated at a table.

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Tony Padgett, who runs The Black Horse on Westgate, said the new rules are expected to reduce customer numbers during the week.

New restrictions on pub opening hours could be “quite damaging” for city centre bars and pubs, a Wakefield landlord has said.New restrictions on pub opening hours could be “quite damaging” for city centre bars and pubs, a Wakefield landlord has said.
New restrictions on pub opening hours could be “quite damaging” for city centre bars and pubs, a Wakefield landlord has said.

He said: “I don’t think it’s going to help the town centre pubs during the week. I think over the weekend people are going to come out a bit earlier.

“We think we’ll possibly be almost as busy at the weekend, especially on a Saturday and Sunday.”

Tony said he and his staff had been working hard to abide by all rules since reopening, but had received no guidance on how to enforce the new rules, especially those which specify customers should wear masks when they are not seated.

He said: “We don’t know how we’re going to police that.

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“We can only do our best here and hope that the public work with us and understand that we’re just doing our job.

“We’ve done extremely well in enforcing the new rules, but we’ve basically been left to our own devices with this.

“It’s not like being a barkeep any more, it’s like being a school teacher or a policeman. Telling people to sit down, not move their chairs or mix tables. It’s a constant battle.

“Now it’s law the they can be held accountable and financially accountable, it might make people feel a bit different.

“We won’t hesitate to not give access to anyone who won’t give us track and trace or wear a mask, but we’re going to have to hope for the best.”

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