The 10pm curfew could cost pubs and restaurants tens of thousands of pounds a month, the head of a hotel association is warning.
Raphael Herzog, chair of the Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), has hit out at the new restrictions which came into force on Thursday (September 24) in England and Wales.
Mr Herzog, who is general manager of a major hotel in the South West, says the new rule caused his restaurant to lose at least 拢1,000 on the first night.
The curfew was announced by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, along with a number of other rules, in a bid to curb rising rates of Covid-19 in the 海角视频.
鈥淭he problem with the curfew at 10pm is everyone is forced to leave at the same time and then they are on the street and not social distancing,鈥 said Mr Herzog.
鈥淎 lot of people will go and carry on in houses and flats, and spread the virus. This won鈥檛 do any good for the R rate.
鈥淎 restaurant is a secure environment. People are seated, there is table service and everyone is socially distanced from one another.
鈥淏y closing at 10pm rather than 11pm we lost at least 拢1,000 last night. That鈥檚 拢30,000 a month we won鈥檛 have in the bank.鈥
Mr Herzog said chancellor Rishi Sunak鈥檚 announcement yesterday was welcome but he believes the Government needs to go further to support the hospitality sector.
Measures unveiled in Mr Sunak's ' Winter Economy Plan ' include a new Jobs Support Scheme, an extension to the cut in VAT for some sectors, and support for businesses and workers.
It comes after increasing pressure from business groups, MPs and unions to extend the furlough scheme amid fears tough new Government restrictions will damage the economy.
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Mr Herzog added: 鈥淚t is welcome but it just not enough unfortunately. We don鈥檛 see the scheme as a driver for businesses to keep people in their jobs.鈥
He also hit out over the new 鈥榬ule of six鈥, saying it was now 鈥渧ery difficult鈥 for hotels to operate - and it was likely to have a "serious impact" on events.
鈥淲e have made significant investments and implemented many procedures to make our hotels safe for guests," he added.
