Blaze of glory: Harrogate bar launches 'Eat Out' discount in final days before lockdown

Simon Midgeley, owner of award-winning Harrogate indie cafe-bar Starling - "We want to leave on a positive note but in a safe way."

But the owner of Starling Independent Bar & Coffee House also said he was filled with sadness that some Harrogate businesses would be "damaged beyond repair" by the latest change of rules.

Simon Midgley said he wanted everyone to stay safe but was offering 20 per cent off all food from today until the bar closed after Wednesday evening as part of a new national lockdown ordered by the Government.

Mr Midgeley said: "We want to leave on a positive note but in a safe way.

"It's the last three days before lockdown for the people of Harrogate and we want to go out in a blaze of glory."

The independent bar located on Oxford Street, which has won a slew of award in recent years, including Harrogate and Ripon CAMRA Pub of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the 2018 Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Awards, will offer the 20&% discount from 5pm to 9pm on all food.

Mr Midgeley, the director of Murmuration Ltd, said the Government's economic support, while welcome, had been distributed in an unfair, sporadic and sometimes ineffective way.

The Starling owner said: "I am fearful that many well run and normally profitable businesses in the hospitality sector will not reopen at the end of lockdown 2 whenever that maybe.

"I gather that the 2nd December date has now been called a “provisional” end date, so read into that what you will.

“And even those businesses that do reopen, a significant number will have been damaged so far beyond repair that they won’t see the end of 2021.

“I feel most for those business owners I know well locally who’s fantastic venues have not benefitted from the grants awarded during the first lockdown as they were the wrong size of venue or those who don’t serve food so have hardly benefitted from a VAT reduction to five per cent over the past few months.

"Small venues that we love due to their cosy, warm and homely feel have become cursed by their now lack of space for tables in a socially distanced, fully seated, table service only world.

“The sad thing in all this for me is the lack of fairness in those that are affected by the current state the industry finds itself in.

"Good operators who would normally rise majestically to the top of the pile, the cream of crop, the winners; may become losers through no fault of their own. Sad times."

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