Sunderland bar celebrates Christmas in October to highlight fears 'pubs won't survive' until December due to regulations

Vesta Tilleys in Sunderland has decorated the venue with a Christmas tree, tinsel and cardboard cut outs of the Grinch and Elf to celebrate Christmas throughout October.

Staff are also wearing Christmas masks and Santa hats to spread the early Christmas cheer.

Louise Bradley, 52, manager of Vesta Tilleys said: “We wanted to bring Christmas forward as I fear these new regulations for pubs will mean some businesses in Sunderland won’t survive to see Christmas.

"I wanted to bring some positivity and lighten the mood.

"The Christmas decorations have given the pub a nice feel, it has more of a relaxed atmosphere, even with these strict rules in place.

"A lot of our regular customers live alone so they come to the bar for contact with other people, to have conversations with others and to sit with friends.

"These new covid rules will really affect these people.”

The new regulations that came into force on Friday, September 18 across the North East include the ban of friends and family members, who are not in the same support bubble, from meeting at any indoor public venue.

The 52-year-old manager from South Shields added: “I have actually seen customers smiling when they come into the pub and see the Christmas decorations.

"It has brightened the mood since the new regulations came in, people were taking selfies with the Grinch cut outs!”

The bar is offering Christmas hats for every customer as well as turkey and stuffing sandwiches for regulars.

Vesta Tilleys opened up their doors again in August, a month after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced pubs could re-open.

Ms Bradley said: “We opened a little later than the other bars and we have been strictly abiding by all rules and regulations.

"It is frustrating for bars like mine because we have been taking on all the new restrictions and now the hospitality industry as a whole is being penalised for it.

"These new rules are not viable and I fear businesses across Sunderland will struggle.”

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