The owner of The Firkin in Newton-le-Willows has said wet-led pubs are being “left out to rot” after being forced to close under new lockdown restrictions.

From Wednesday, pubs and bars across St Helens will have to shut up shop after the Government placed the Liverpool City Region in the highest tier of its new three-tier lockdown system.

However, restaurants will be allowed to open until 10pm.

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The restrictions, which are being legislated in Parliament today, also states that pubs serving “substantial meals” may also remain open.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs on Monday that “no-one affected with be left to fend for themselves”, saying the Government is going to expand its “unprecedented economic support”.

But swathes of businesses are still fearful of their future today, including Phil Cunliffe, who owns The Firkin in Newton-le-Willows with his brother, Daniel.

“It’s really worrying,” he said. “The frustrating part about it is, it doesn’t make any logical sense to us at all.

“The restrictions they’re putting in place, we understand there needs to be restrictions, table service, masks on – we’re doing all that.

“What’s the difference between two people sitting on a table, eating, and then table service for two people sat there on a table having a pint? There’s no difference.

“It just feels like wet-led pubs have just been left out to rot at the moment.”

Phil believes the new restrictions are skewed towards big pub chains, such as Wetherspoons.

He said the industry as a whole needs better support from the Government.

Phil said: “I’m all about playing fair. We need a level playing field. We need more money. We need more support.

“And our industry needs more support from the bottom, all the way up to the guy who serves you at the bar.

“It needs support from top to bottom or at the end of it there’s just going to be Weatherspoons left.

“I hate to say it, but it feels like, and I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but it feels like the rules benefit Wetherspoons at the moment.

“When they got bailed out and now all this. No-one comes and knocks on my door and goes, here’s some money to help you. I know we’re not a huge firm but it’s just not a level playing field at all.”

During the first closure, Phil said he and his brother relied on savings to stay afloat, but he said this lifeline has already been emptied.

They will be entitled to some support from the Government, but Phil said it won’t be enough to cover their fixed costs.

He said The Firkin has not had the time to claw the money it lost through the first lockdown back, saying the business has been “surviving week to week”.

They’ve also invested in extra measures and equipment to keep the pub Covid-secure, in line with Government guidance, with all customers now getting table service.

“That’s what they wanted us to do and that’s what we’ve been doing,” Phil said.

“And they can’t say it’s because, people after a few drinks, social distancing goes out the window. Obviously, they’ve done the 10pm curfew to stop that and that’s been an absolute disaster.

“In restaurants, what are people going to do? They’re just going to have the bare minimum and drink as much as they can.

“Exactly the same problem will arise.”

In preparation for tomorrow’s closure, The Firkin invited its loyal customers down for one final, socially distanced or takeaway tipple.

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Phil said: “Our regulars and people who come in have been absolutely spot on. They’ve followed the rules, they’ve stuck to them, they’ve not moaned, they’ve just cracked on with it.

“They want to go to the pub, they want to see their friends, they want to enjoy themselves. It’s horrible outside at the moment. You can’t do anything, it’s rubbish.

“Your life’s just had all the fun sucked out of it, and we’re trying to give some of that back under the safest way possible.”