The owner of a famous Anfield pub says she greeted the news Covid restrictions are to be lifted next week with "sheer relief" - but that she's certain lockdown rules will be reintroduced later this year.
Kate Stewart, owner of The Sandon, a famous pub said to be the "birthplace of Liverpool FC", said she has lost around £2m in revenue due to the devastating pandemic, which has left her considering quitting the industry altogether.
She spoke to the ECHO after Boris Johnson’s announcement in regards to the legal restrictions on wearing masks, table service, the ‘rule of six’ indoors and the ban on nightclubs opening, which will all go from July 19.
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Despite legal restrictions being dropped however, the PM announced that Covid passport checking and masks in enclosed spaces will be “encouraged”.
Ms Stewart criticised the Government’s treatment of hospitality and confused messaging - branding it an “absolute joke”.
She said: “I've got a responsibility for over 120 staff. This will mean that in August, we will be back to full capacity. All the staff will be back in, no one will be on furlough, and we can carry on as a business.
“I was getting to the point thinking I just don't know how much longer I can carry on having this venue closed and costing me £20,000 a month to keep it closed.”
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Ms Stewart said the pub has lost around £2m due to the pandemic, but that she is optimistic for the weeks ahead.
“It's about how confident people are - but after looking at how everyone behaved celebrating England, flooding the streets and coming together - I’ve got great confidence that we will be returning to full capacity and full revenue.
“I think over the last few months, everybody has relaxed anyway, and stopped wearing face masks. Everyone's been congregating in houses and at parties, and are ready to get back to living their lives.
“As long as everyone's conscious of the dangers and responsible - washing our hands and everything else, I think we're going to be alright.
“Most people are vaccinated now so we have to get back to some form of normality.”
Ms Stewart attacked the Government over its "confusing" policy on face coverings, adding: “From the very first day, there's been ambiguity. They said not to wear them, then they said to wear them and it’s compulsory, now they say you don’t have to wear them but you should wear them.
“It’s an absolute joke. You’ve got to be clear and decisive to people and give them clear directions and instructions.
“If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. If you don't, don’t. We can't be governed by these people who don't know what they're talking about.”
Ms Stewart also predicts the Government will impose Covid restrictions by the winter - despite the PM’s pledge earlier this year that the roadmap would be “irreversible” .
She said: “I'd never say never because the government don't know what they're doing and they haven’t got a clear and decisive plan. They go back and forth.
“So I do think that there will be further restrictions, probably come winter. It’s a shambles and the hospitality industry has been treated appallingly right the way through this pandemic. We’ve taken the brunt of it.”
She added: “I don’t think I’ll be staying in the hospitality industry very much longer. I’ve just had enough.
“The way the government has treated us and the way they can just close your business down and not give you the support you need - I just don't want to be part of that industry anymore.”
