'It should have come sooner' - Washington pubs react to the third national lockdown

Pub owners have reacted to the news of a new national lockdown, hoping it provides a change in fortune allowing them to open sooner rather than later.
Washington pubs react to the news of a third national lockdownWashington pubs react to the news of a third national lockdown
Washington pubs react to the news of a third national lockdown

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced in a statement on January 4 and told the country they must once again stay at home in an effort to overcome the coronavirus pandemic, meaning England is now going ito its third national lockdown in 10 months in the battle against coronavirus.

The news has left business owners across the country devastated and adds to the pressure on North East pubs, which have been closed since the region was put in tier 3, at the beginning of December.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson making a televised address to the nation from 10 Downing Street, London, setting out new emergency measures to control the spread of coronavirus in England. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday January 4, 2021. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: PA Video/PA WirePrime Minister Boris Johnson making a televised address to the nation from 10 Downing Street, London, setting out new emergency measures to control the spread of coronavirus in England. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday January 4, 2021. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: PA Video/PA Wire
Prime Minister Boris Johnson making a televised address to the nation from 10 Downing Street, London, setting out new emergency measures to control the spread of coronavirus in England. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday January 4, 2021. See PA story HEALTH Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: PA Video/PA Wire

Pubs and restaurants can still offer takeaway food, but not alcohol.

The Echo spoke to three Washington pub owners for their reaction to the news:

Lee Jobling, owner of The Victoria Inn, said: “It should have been done a long time ago. It’s about time the Government gave people a bit of a wake up call. I think now we all need to stick together and look at it as taking a step closer to getting open.

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"People need to take notice now and think about what they’re doing. We all have to take this seriously to get through it as fast as possible.”

Joanne Wood, manager of The Wheelhouse in Albany said: “I just keep wondering when we’ll be able to open again. We’ve been open and then closed for that long it feels like lockdown has become the new normal.

"It’s difficult now but hopefully this will be positive in the long run and allow us to open sooner. You’ve got to stay positive in times like this.”

Mark Farnsworth, owner of the Sky Lounge, in Oxclose Road, Washington, said: “I think it’s too little to late now to be honest. I think we should have bitten the bullet sooner and persevered to get through the thick of it, rather than stopping and starting constantly, which has just prolonged the risk of exposure to businesses.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced on January 5 that businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to be given a one-off grant worth up to £9,000, with the measure costing £4billion across the UK.

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