Jeremy Kent, the Welsh Conservative candidate for Wrexham in the Welsh Parliament Elections in 2021, recently visited The Lemon Tree Restaurant in Wrexham to see how they were doing since Welsh Government’s latest hospitality measures came into effect.
Jeremy spoke to the owner Sam about how the restrictions have affected his business in the run up to Christmas.
Sam said "It was disappointing that the restrictions have meant that I have had to close the doors until the new year as the level of trade would not be sufficient to be able to open. We will have to see what financial support is on offer and hope that 2021 is a better year".
Jeremy said, "Hospitality businesses have worked hard to introduce Covid secure measures and have done all that is asked of them. Now, with just 4 days notice the Labour Welsh Government have placed these restrictions on closing times and banned alcohol sales. Many businesses will have already ordered Christmas stock, and this is another blow to the sector."
He continued: “For all of Wales to have the same level of restrictions on COVID is frankly ridiculous, and we need a more targeted approach to areas. We also need to see the data behind the decision to severely restrict the hospitality trade. I am calling on the Labour Welsh Government to allow pubs, restaurants and cafes to sell alcohol, in a COVID-secure way. Hospitality businesses are at the heart of local communities, none more so than in Wrexham which as strong links to the brewery trade."
Jeremy also calls on the Labour Welsh Government to bring forward the date for financial support, as businesses will currently have to wait until January to access this package of support.