Covid fury: Harrogate drinks industry slams 'harsh' new tier system as a catastrophe for the town

Covid crackdown: Will Harrogate move into higher tier this week when Boris Johnson announces new rules

While welcoming yesterday's announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the lockdown would end from next week and that non-essential shops would be allowed to reopen nationwide, the Government's latest tier system and its approach to the hospitality sector has been met with dismay in Harrogate.

Robert Thompson, owner seven bars in the Harrogate district including The Tap on Tower Street and the independent chain of So! Bar and Eats in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, said the potential implications would be catastrophic for Harrogate.

Mr Thompson said if Harrogate moved into any higher tier in the new anti-Covid system, he would not be reopening at least four of his seven businesses.

And, he added, if the town were to be put into tier three in Thursday's announcement from the Government, it would be catastrophic for Harrogate and its hospitality industry.

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) chairman Ian Fozard, who is the family owner of the award-winning Rooster's Brewing Co at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate, has long campaigned this year for a better deal from the Government for independent and small breweries and bars during Covid.

Mr Fozard said the new tier system seemed harsh on hospitality businesses and their supply chain such as independent brewers and he was once again utterly perplexed as to why the drinks industry was being singled out in an unfair way without evidence or the necessary support for the industry.

What Ian Fozard (chairman of The Society of Independent Brewers and owner of Rooster's Brewing Co in Harrogate) said:

"The new tier system seems harsh on hospitality businesses and their supply chain such as independent brewers.

"Our sector has never seen any hard evidence as to why it is being singled out in this way and it is particularly harsh on wet led pubs and bars that cannot serve meals.

"They have spent considerable sums on being COVID - safe as per previous guidance, seemingly to no avail.

"For smaller pubs and breweries to survive Government enforced closure of large parts of the hospitality sector - they will need proper compensation.

"It beggars belief that supermarkets, who are generally perceived to have benefited from the COVID crisis should receive over a billion pounds in Business Rates relief, yet independent breweries, for example, who have been hard hit, have not received any specific help at all."

What Robert Thompson (owner of SO! bar in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, Tap On Tower Street in Harrogate, Devonshire Tap House in Harrogate, The Groves in Knaresborough and The Hart in Knaresborough) said:

"It's great news that the lockdown is finishing and we hopefully will be able to open in some capacity via the tier system.

"Hopefully, it will be tier one and there wont be much change to our position pre lockdown 2.0.

"If we are moved into another tier, this will have catastrophic implications for our bars.

"Four of our seven pubs are likely to stay shut as they have no or minimal food offer.

"This also bring great concerns over whether government support will still be there to support our employees and also the more unknown long term effects this will have on the sites and people's drinking habits.

"In tier 2, for example, what does the substantial meal mean?

"As for tier 3, it would be catastrophic for the town and the industry if Harrogate was forced into tier 3 until the spring and through Christmas which can be 25% of annual trade for some hospitality businesses.

"Times were difficult before this, but with this as well, I fear the town will lose many local hospitalty businesses and even hotels.

"Harrogate's draw as a tourism hub for North Yorkshire and its wealth of hospitality businesses would be affected for years to come."

Supporting the indies: New shop to open in Harrogate this week

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