Sunderland restaurant hits out at council over lockdown restrictions after business forced to close

The owner of the Alexandra Steakhouse has hit out at Sunderland City Council for calling for lockdown restrictions which has forced business to close its doors.
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Steven Atkinson, 47 owner of the Alexandra Steakhouse on Queen Alexandra Road has temporarily closed the eatery after tighter Covid restrictions were announced across the North East last month.

The initial local lockdown restrictions brought in in mid-September by the government, after a request from the seven North East councils banned households mixing indoors.

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This ban has continued through the new tier system which has seen Sunderland and the North East placed in tier 2, and hospitality businesses have been left struggling due to a drop in customers.

Steven Atkinson, 47 owner of the Alexandra Steakhouse  has hit out at Sunderland Council after the authority asked for lockdown restrictions last month which have affected his businessSteven Atkinson, 47 owner of the Alexandra Steakhouse  has hit out at Sunderland Council after the authority asked for lockdown restrictions last month which have affected his business
Steven Atkinson, 47 owner of the Alexandra Steakhouse has hit out at Sunderland Council after the authority asked for lockdown restrictions last month which have affected his business

Mr Atkinson said: “The North East councils grouped together to ask for tighter restrictions and now businesses here might not survive.

"Sunderland Council asked for these restrictions after we bent over backwards to keep everyone safe by abiding by all the government guidance, how is it fair that now the hospitality industry suffers when we have been sticking to all the rules?

“The council came into the restaurant to do Covid regulation checks, but interrupted customer’s meals in the process.

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"We have temporarily closed because my staff are tired and need a break, we are all tired of the restrictions.”

The restaurant, in the city’s Queen Alexandra Road, confirmed the closure on its Facebook page, adding that it was ‘the best decision at the moment’ after a testing year.

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Sunderland restaurant announces temporary closure due to Covid restrictions

A spokesperson from the council said it had asked for government funding to support business affected by restrictions, but that the rules are necessary to keep people safe.

They said: “The City Council and other authorities across our region have continued to make the case for financial assistance to offset the losses that businesses face because of these regulations.

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“This council and others are continuing to press for further financial assistance and we share the frustrations that many are feeling.

“We will all be very aware of the difficult demands on our communities and businesses but we must all do our bit and work together, and that is how we will save countless lives and allow our region to recover.”

They added: “Council officers have completed hundreds of monitoring visits and are continuing to ensure regulations are followed as they meet owners, staff and customers.”

Mr Atkinson, who is from South Shields, says the steakhouse will reopen once “staff have recharged their batteries” during a “well-deserved break” in time for the launch of their new menu.

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He added: “I don’t think the hospitality industry is to blame for this spike, why aren’t there any restrictions on the supermarkets.

“There are a lot of people angry about this, we have been jumping through hoops to make sure that we are safe.

"I had to wait 12 weeks for my business grant from the council, they haven’t got a clue what they’re doing.”

The steakhouse is due to reopen over the coming weeks, depending on any changes to restrictions.

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