Pubs, bars, betting shops and casinos are set to close across Liverpool City Region this week when the area is placed into tier three on the Government’s new lockdown system.
A number of hospitality venues will be ordered to close, with restrictions that could be in place for up to six months.
Liverpool’s Grosvenor Casino, based on Chaloner Street in the city centre, say the decision to close casinos is “a bitter blow” and means that jobs are “under serious threat”.
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The company has called for “urgent” support to help protect the jobs at risk, and labelled the Government’s decisions “arbitrary” and “contradictory”.
Jonathon Swaine, managing director at Grosvenor Casinos, said: “The UK Government’s decision to close casinos in Liverpool is a bitter blow for our colleagues and customers across the city.
"There is no scientific justification whatsoever behind this decision. It is arbitrary, contradictory and will do little to suppress the spread of the virus but will severely impact the viability of fundamentally safe venues where the safety of our customers and colleagues has been our primary focus since we were allowed to reopen.
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“This decision, along with further restrictions planned for hospitality venues elsewhere across the North West, has already come at a huge cost and hundreds of jobs are once again under serious threat.
“It is crucial that we now get the urgent support which will help to safeguard jobs and help us to emerge on the other side of this latest blow.”
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Finer details of the restrictions are yet to be confirmed and will be announced by the Prime Minister later today.
It is currently unclear when the closures will come into effect or how the restrictions will impact other businesses such as hairdressers, beauty salons and barbers.
