From a closing gig to takeout as normal - how Sunderland businesses are responding to Lockdown 2

Sunderland businesses preparing for the second national lockdown this week

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced details of a new national lockdown for people in England, which will begin on Thursday and last until December 2.

It means pubs, bars and restaurants will close, though takeaways will be allowed to stay open, and all non-essential retail will be shut, just as businesses were preparing for Christmas, their busiest time of year.

Independent in Holmeside, which only reopened following a seven-month closure in October, will have to close once more, but the cornerstone of Sunderland’s live music scene will close on Wednesday with a socially-distanced gig from home-grown band Vandebilt.

Vandebilt will perform a lockdown 2 closing gig at Independent on Wednesday, November 4

The music venue is one of the arts and culture groups which was awarded lifeline funding from the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, to the tune of £91,000.

Owner Ben Wall said: “We’re chuffed to have Vandebilt playing our final show before lockdown, the capacity is reduced from 350 to 46 to allow for social distancing but it’ll still be a great night.

"Obviously we’re gutted about having to close again but we’ll be working hard to reschedule all of our shows so we can be back bigger and better as soon as we’re allowed.”

Darwin Brewery, within Brewlab at Sunderland Enterprise Park, had already suffered a loss in trade orders due to pubs affected by Tier 2 restrictions.

Gavin Sutherland and Richard Hunt outside of Brewlab, which houses Darwin Brewery

While it’s been stated that pubs and restaurants can’t serve takeaway alcohol in the new lockdown, the micro-brewery is awaiting clarification on its consumer sales offering, which it’s ramped up in recent weeks.

“It’s a worrying time for all in the hospitality industry, pubs, restaurants and breweries alike,” said brewery and development manager Gav Sutherland.

"We are going to be working on offering bottles and mini-casks direct to customers in the area. There needs to be some clarification from Government about whether people will be able to ‘click and collect’ beer from breweries and pubs, as the way the current guidance is written suggests that won’t be possible.

"Pubs and breweries have done all they can to make their businesses Covid-19 safe and it seems unfair that customers wouldn’t be able to buy takeaway beers from them, while they could still buy beer at the supermarket.”

Darwin Brewery has been selling bottles and mini casks direct to consumers

Grinder Coffee Company in Durham Road is one of the businesses who’ll be able to continue to trade as they have been in the past few months.

The coffee shop was one of the first to reopen in May following the first lockdown and has operated purely a takeout service since, utilising their former sit-in space to provide a retail offering from independent Sunderland homewares businesses.

Micheal Curtis, who runs the shop with Riki Tsang, said: “We are awaiting clarification, but as we only offer takeaway we are hoping we can still continue as normal. It’s not ideal, but once we reopened after the first lockdown, due to the size of the shop, we decided just to stick to the takeout model.”