From being a 'social distancing headmistress' to concerns over industry's survival - how Devon's pubs are faring
There's concerns pubs in Devon will struggle if they undergo further restrictions, like the ones announced yesterday for parts of the North.
Last updated 13th Oct 2020
Yesterday all areas of the West Country were placed in the lowest of the three tiers for Covid risk - meaning the 10pm pub closure and rule of six will continue but no formal additional rules will be added.
In some parts of Devon pubs have not reopened after the initial lockdown in March and others say the current 10pm curfew and social distancing has been difficult - even affecting staff mental health because of added 'pressure'.
Julie Barnes, who manages The Teign Brewery Inn in Teignmouth, says enforcing the social distancing restrictions has been a huge challenge - even though they've closed at 9pm since July as an extra precuation.
She said: "When people have had a drink and they forget the rules - not even because they've had a drink, but because this is how they've always behaved - to get them now to change those habits is almost impossible sometimes.
"Then the pressure's on me, I'm the one that gets fined. I'm the one that gets the penalties if they forget.
"I think that is horrendous, that's absolutely horrendus.
"Because the pressure that I feel every time anybody gets up to go to the toilet or speaks to somebody on another table or comes through the door and says hello to somebody - they take that step forward and I have to jump in and say 'take a step back'.
I'm not a headmistress. The pressure to keep on at people all the time absolutely wears me out."
Charlie Whitney who runs Molloys in Teignmouth said: "The restrictions that have been in place - most recently anyway the 10pm curfew - although it hasn't necessarily affected us so much, I know of pubs around here making their trade after 10pm and they've struggled.
"I know a pub down the road has closed because of that.
Ahead of the Prime Minister's statement last night Doctor Virginia Pearson, Director of Public Health Devon, said: “The number of cases across the county have risen in line with the national increase, but case numbers in seven out of our eight District areas still remain lower than the national average. That is important to stress to Devon residents.
"In Exeter however, like so many University cities, we have seen numbers rising significantly, centred mostly around the university's student population. More than 80 per cent of all cases in Exeter are linked to the University. Those infections have in the main been within and between households and residences, not in educational settings.
"Last week the University introduced additional measures, on top of their already comprehensive strategy to stop infection, that include extending the restriction of movement between their student households, and enhanced cleaning regimes on campus and within their student accommodation.
"Non-university student cases in the city are lower than the national average, so there is no evidence yet of significant spread of the virus between student and non-student populations in the city.
"The overall number of patients with Covid-19 in Devon’s hospitals remains relatively low and we are well prepared as we begin to head into winter.
“I ask everyone to all continue to work together to stop the spread. Follow the guidance by keeping social distanced, wash your hands regularly and wear face coverings where required."