More Sunderland city centre pubs delay opening over July 4 concerns

With a capacity of 800 people, The Rabbit in High Street West is one of the bigger pubs in the city and is technically allowed to reopen for the first time in three months this weekend.

However, the management has chosen not to open their doors yet over fears for customer and staff safety.

Manager Lee Smith said: “We want to be as safe as possible, and we just don’t feel like there’s been enough guidance on the restrictions. Also, the fact that we can’t have DJs or even TVs would really affect the atmosphere which people come to The Rabbit for.”

The Rabbit employs around 20 people from the city and many have voiced their concerns about policing social distancing.

Lee explained: “We have to think about our staff and many are scared about how they would enforce the social distancing.”

This week, many city centre pubs have chosen not to reopen including Ttonic, Chaplins and The Point, which are operated by the same management company, as well as The Dun Cow and The Engine Room at The Fire Station.

Gatsby in Park Lane has also issued a statement saying: “We’ve made the hard decision to not reopen on the 4th of July. Most important to us as this strange new world unfolds is the safety of our customers and staff and that will always be our priority.”

While it’s closed, The Rabbit is carrying out improvement works after receiving Heritage Lottery Funding as part of the wider Bishopwearmouth Townscape Heritage Scheme.

Lee said: “We’re going to wait to see how people adapt to social distancing in a pub, before we make the decision to open. In the meantime, we’re focusing on the refurbishment. We’re highly excited for the future in this area of the city, which is undergoing huge changes.”

For those people wanting to visit pubs this weekend, many will be open with social distancing in place, including Poetic License, 808 Bar & Kitchen, Sam’s Bar, Hidden, The Palm, The Saltgrass and Sinatra’s.

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