A Manchester chef has threatened to tell the government to "shove it" if they order his restaurant to close under another lockdown.
Simon Wood, a former MasterChef winner who owns Wood restaurant in the city centre, called on other business owners to do the same unless sufficient support is provided.
He made the call in response to a tweet from Andy Burnham, in which the mayor accused the government of 'trying to think of any old excuse to avoid a financial support scheme for hospitality'.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson 'considering three options including full lockdown' to curb spread of Omicron
Mr Burnham was responding to reports that draft regulations limiting pubs and restaurants to outdoor service only were being drawn up.
Mr Wood tweeted: "I'm actually of a mind to say if they close us I’ll tell them to shove it and stay open and they can fine me if they want.
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"If enforced closures come maybe everyone should do it until they support us properly."
Hospitality businesses across the city have been hit by a flood of cancellations following a rise in Covid-19 cases and a ramping up of restrictions.
Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people should 'think carefully' before going out to celebrate this Christmas, while England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty advised Britons to consider cutting back on socialising.
The announcements have drawn concern from the hospitality industry as people weigh up whether to risk nights out or cancel their plans to improve their chances of spending Christmas with family.
So far, there has been no offer of financial support from the government.
Many Covid-hit businesses had to rely on government grants, furlough and extra bank loans just to get through the first eighteen months of the pandemic.
If trade continues to be wiped out by Omicron fears and no help is on offer, they face a bleak 2022.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is reportedly considering three different options to curb the spread of Omicron, including a full lockdown.
Scientists have presented the Prime Minister with three different scenarios for tougher restrictions, according to the Daily Telegraph.
They range from the lowest level possible, reports the paper, which would just be guidance asking people to limit indoor contacts.
The second option is reportedly rules and bans on indoor household mixing, social distancing and an 8pm curfew on pubs and restaurants. The latter choice presented to the Prime Minister is said to be a full 'circuit breaker' lockdown.
