Wigan bar manager wants "Covid-secure" pubs open in Tier 2 and 3 areas

A Wigan bar manager has called for pubs and other hospitality venues to be able to open if they can to prove be "Covid-secure".
Sherrington's manager Mark MoorcroftSherrington's manager Mark Moorcroft
Sherrington's manager Mark Moorcroft

Mark Moorcroft, manager at Sherrington's in Swinley, wants to see a Food Standards Agency-type inspection system introduced.

He spoke as Wigan, along with the rest of Greater Manchester, was plunged into tougher Tier 3 restrictions from December 2 after the national lockdown.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That means that hospitality venues can only offer takeaway or delivery services and hotels and other accommodation, as well as indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close.

Mr Moorcroft said: “The past eight months have been really difficult and we’ve been subjected to a lot of change. It’s frustrating as we’re told one one thing and then another, that we’re moving in and out of tiers and restrictions. We’re then having constantly to adapt our business to stay within the guidance.

“So I think there should be a Food Standards Agency-type inspection system where pubs and restaurants have inspections from the local authorities and are judged whether they’re Covid-secure or not.

“Those who are can be open, those who don’t stay closed and those that need a bit of help can sort things out.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Under the previous Tier 3 restrictions, which allowed bars such as his to stay open providing they served substantial meals with a drink, Sherrington's offered a pizza service. This was through Stonebakers, a Wigan-based mobile wood fired pizza company.

Mr Moorcroft said: “Customers would make an order and we would get the pizzas from the van outside and we did everything table service and had all the necessary Covid measures in place.

“We’re still in discussions about what we’re doing this time but we’ve been offering a takeaway service lockdown.”

It comes as the bar, which opened in October 2018 in a former hardware store on Kenyon Road, has taken to selling Christmas trees at weekends in a bid to get through the pandemic restrictions. The bar also has a number of beer mini-kegs available for collection.