Weymouth pub manager warns second lockdown will be 'catastrophic'

A Weymouth pub manager is warning a second national lockdown will hit his industry harder than the first.

From Thursday, pubs and bars will be required to close their doors until 2nd December as part of a national lockdown to stop the spread of Coronavirus.

Keith Treggiden is the manager of the Rendezvous, The Royal Oak and The Slug and Lettuce. in Weymouth.

He said:

"The impact's going to be catastrophic. Certainly for the private independent pubs and the places that obviously aren't able to do deliveries as well.

"I think the second lockdown is actually going to be a lot worse than the first one. We were kind of in an OK place with the first one, we knew what to expect.

"On the whole we were a lot more prepared, but with this one, I'm not even too sure what the packages are from the government."

The government has announced the extension of the furlough scheme.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will stay open until December.

Employees can receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to a maximum of £2,500.

But, Keith's still worried about loss of income:

"There are very strong rumors the furlough scheme is still going to be extending until the end of December, which does give some indication that Christmas and New Year's Eve is going to be ruled out.

"This might be a plan by the government to stop the spread, stopping the parties, stopping the groups.

"I dread to think what the impact from that will mean."