Sunderland landlord's 'massive relief' after learning that pubs can remain open for now

Sean Turnbull, the owner of The Lighthouse, which is believed to be Sunderland’s smallest bar, only reopened 24 hours before the Government announced that licensed premises in the city could continue welcoming customers.

The Sea Road pub underwent a professional deep clean after closing for nearly a week when a customer confirmed that they had tested positive for coronavirus.

After reopening on Sunday, Sean feared that Prime Minister Boris Johnson would order bars across the city to close again on Monday as part of England’s new three-tier lockdown system.

But speaking after Sunderland was placed in tier two, which allows pubs to remain open for now, Sean, 48, said: “It was a massive relief because I feared that we might have to shut down again like we did in March.

"It is still on the cards at some point, to be honest, but it is still a relief to be able to carry on after having to close for some time.”

Sean, who yearned to open his own pub after working as a brewery delivery driver for nearly 25 years, poured his life savings into the venture when it opened for the first time just before Christmas last year.

Earlier this year he told how it was just beginning to develop a loyal customer base when it had to close down as part of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown in March.

The former coffee shop has since had to slash its capacity by about two-thirds from about 50 to 16 to cater for changing social distancing regulations.

Previously open six days a week, it is currently open 4pm-10pm from Wednesdays-Saturdays and 4pm-9pm on Sundays.

Sean, from South Hylton, said: “I am only just getting by at the moment.

"I have a few regulars and they have been great. But you don’t have the football fans like you used to and people can’t come out with their mates.

"We’ve done everything they’ve asked to make people safe but people are still reluctant to come out.

"If things stay as they are I will probably just about manage.

"But if he shuts us down then there will come a point where I will have to get a another job and there are people out their who are losing their jobs.

"It is a right pickle.”

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