A RESTAURANT boss has spoken out about how unfair Tier 3 restrictions are on the hospitality sector.

Retreat restaurants, who have sites in Bromley Cross, Chorley New Road and Adlington, previous led an email campaign to Matt Hancock during Bolton’s lockdown in September.

Under Tier 3 rules, pubs, bars and restaurants will only be able to operate as takeaway only.

The director of Retreat, Richard Hibbert, points out that people can go shopping or go to the gym, yet cannot dine out as one single household.

He said: “From our point of view there’s no reason at all why we cannot open. People can go to leisure centres, to the shops, to the gym yet they cannot go out with their household – who they live with – for a meal.

“It’s just so disgraceful, we would never expect to be treated like this. It’s so unfair.

“There is a chance that we could move tiers, but even so that would be announced on December 16 and wouldn’t be in place until the December19, and soon after Christmas bubbles will be in place.

“We understand why the tier system is in place, but it doesn’t make sense to open retail and not hospitality.

“Thousands of people will be rushing to the shops because they will want to get their Christmas shopping done, yet all we are asking is for one household to be able to eat out in a covid-safe environment.

“Even if we can open over Christmas, people are not allowed to eat out in their Christmas bubbles – but who’s got three dining tables in their home?

“It doesn’t make sense when earlier in the year they said that hospitality was a covid safe environment, now they’ve decided it isn’t.

“The rules are massively unfair and don’t make any sense. They are crucifying hospitality.

“Of course shops need the economy too, we all do. But it is very frustrating when we’ve been playing by the rules all along and still can’t open. “

Like many pubs and restaurants trying to adapt to the ever changing rules, retreat have installed external pods in order to sit people outside.

The restaurant has spent thousands of pounds on improving the outdoor area throughout the year, only to be told to remain close during the most crucial financial seasons.

Mr Hibbert said: “We’ve spent £60,000 on improvements to our outdoor area this year and fortunately those changes are permanent so we can make use of them in the future.

“But it is still frustrating, we were all ready to open safely. Previously we’ve been inspected six times to ensure we are covid secure and officers have always said that we follow the rules to a t.

“Yes there is financial support available but it is not enough. We get a £2,000 grant for each month we are closed but it costs us £5,000 to keep the business going.

“Furlough helps to support the staff, but ultimately we need a business here for the staff to return to.”

On Tuesday Greater Manchester's night time economy adviser called on the Chancellor to more support for hospitality in Tier 3.

Sacha Lord tweeted: "It’s frustrating that all the chat this morning is about Tier 2 hospitality opening tomorrow in the UK.

"The chat should be about Tier 3, where were are still closed during the busiest month of the year.

"The sector and the supply chain urgently need more support Rishi Sunak."