South Yorkshire hospitality businesses fight to open up again
Businesses across the hospitality industry in Doncaster have teamed up to call on the government to reassess coronavirus rules
Last updated 28th Dec 2020
South Yorkshire hospitality businesses are calling for urgent support through the pandemic, warning that our towns and cities face losing some of their best venues.
A hard-hitting video sees, pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels in Doncaster - which would normally be at their busiest at this time of year - make a plea to the government to allow them to fully reopen.
Under Tier 3 restrictions, they are only allowed to operate as a takeaway, delivery or click and collect services.
The Glass Strawberry Cafe, in the town centre, is among the businesses that have joined forces as part of the Hope for Hospitality campaign. Owner Beverly Georgiou claims the industry is not on a level playing field with others, despite putting in lots of safety measures.
She said: "The shops can open, hairdressers can open and gyms can open. Everybody can open - which is fabulous, I don't mind those being open - but we still have to remain closed.
"We want to know why. The government has come up with no facts. We have done so much to make a safe environment, and followed every single rule.
"Nearly every hospitality business has spent thousands making premises secure. I spent my loan money - but I still can't open. Yet, you can pile into a supermarket.
"The government has to make a decision and tell us, why? Why can't we open in hospitality, but everybody else can.
"This cannot carry on. Jobs are going to be lost. And how long can businesses carry on before they go under?"
Doncaster Chamber of Commerce is behind the campaign. Jade Dyer, Assistant Director of Services at the organisation, said: “The hospitality sector has been put through the mill since March. They complied with government’s asks to operate, only to be forced to close. After investing thousands of pounds to ensure they were COVID-secure, it is soul destroying for business owners in hospitality to watch customers walking past their premises to join the queues elsewhere on the high street.
“Some of the businesses we filmed with have been unable to open since March. Whilst they welcomed the initial financial packages of support in the early days of the pandemic, they are now receiving less than £3,000 per month – a figure that doesn’t cover costs like rent, bills, pensions contributions and national insurance.”
A government spokesperson for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "“We understand the pressure the hospitality industry is currently under, however the current restrictions are essential so we can control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives.
“Businesses can access our unprecedented support package worth £280 billion, including the extended furlough scheme, business rates holidays, various loan schemes and VAT deferral in addition to grants of £3,000 a month for businesses required to close.”