HOSPITALITY managers from across Romsey and Test Valley have revealed their thoughts on the new coronavirus rules, where pubs, bars and restaurants are forced to shut at 10pm.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed hospitality outlets will have to follow the curfew, which started yesterday, to help stop the spread of the deadly bug.

The restrictions mean face masks are compulsory for bar staff, shop workers, waiters and taxi passengers, with £200 fines being given out to anyone who breaks this rule.

Punters won’t be allowed to prop up the bar either after the rules stated the hospitality sector must offer table service only.

The move comes after the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, warned the UK could see 50,000 new coronavirus cases a day by mid-October if no action is taken. That could lead to about “200-plus deaths per day” a month after. Now, one pub manager is urging customers to keep supporting watering holes across Romsey.

Manager of the Bishop Blaize in Winchester Road, Ben Jacobs, said: “The curfew is not the problem because my rules here were if you weren’t in the pub by 10pm then you couldn’t come in, since some drunk people can come out of town by that time, but if customers were already in the pub before 10pm then I was happy to stay open.

“The face masks and the table service are the problem, because with our pub everyone normally sits at the bar and talks to everyone as it is a community pub.

“We have one person working at the bar and it will be harder for them to run around doing table service.

“At the weekend if it is busy then we will have two people at the bar, but we do not need it at the moment because we are not getting the custom.”

The 29-year-old added: “It is a survival game for us and other pubs in Romsey, but as long as in six months time we can open our doors then that is okay.”

The new landlord of The Boot Inn which is located in Houghton, Craig Doyle, said: “It is another curveball, but I don’t think the 10pm closing time will have an effect on our takings, because the restaurant is done by 9pm and the area is quite quiet around 9.30pm.

“I feel it will have a little bit more of an effect in the bar area on Friday, but we have to adapt and will try to encourage people to come earlier with our fresh new menu.” The 46-year-old stressed the pub now has a QR code for the track and trace system and all of the staff have masks to help keep customers safe.

Manager of the Dog & Crook in Braishfield, Collette Graham, said: “No one wants to go into lockdown again or the hospitality industry to be destroyed.”