Pub in Enniskillen calls time again after three weeks back in business

North’s Ministers announce new Covid-19 restrictions to begin at 6pm on Friday

Pat Blake has September 23rd marked on a wall chart in his office in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh. It was the date his pubs reopened after months of closure during lockdown; only three weeks on, he is preparing to close them again.

“We ourselves and many, many pubs across Northern Ireland were simply treading water, we were looking to survive, we were looking to, at best, break even and retain our best staff,” he says.

“Unless there’s something very substantial put in place... I see large scale redundancies across the licensed trade in Northern Ireland.”

Ministers in the North announced on Wednesday that the hospitality sector is to close – with the exception of food deliveries and takeaways – in an attempt to halt the spiralling number of coronavirus cases.

It is among a range of new restrictions to come into effect from 6pm on Friday, and which will last for an initial period of four weeks, though this could be extended.

Industry body Hospitality Ulster has called for immediate financial support, warning that there will be “thousands upon thousands of job losses”.

“We don’t want to see a financial gesture,” said its chief executive Colin Neill “but a significant payment made to all those in the sector that have had their means of making a living stripped away from them for the greater good.”