Wolverhampton pub owner says second lockdown was 'inevitable'
The owner of a Wolverhampton pub has said a second national lockdown had been "inevitable" for a number of weeks.
Bobby Basran is preparing to close his doors for at least a month at the Merridale pub from Thursday.
He said whether they can reopen in December, or whether it is January, he looks forward to welcoming customers back through the doors of the Merridale Street pub.
Mr Basran said: "To be fair, you knew a second national lockdown was inevitable. You could see it coming over the last few weeks looking at the increase of cases across England and what other European countries were doing. I have been predicting it for the last few weeks.
"The Government and the Prime Minister have been fighting the Chancellor over the issues of putting everyone back on furlough as it is going to cost millions.
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"They have indicated this lockdown will be four weeks, but from what is being reported it could be extended and longer. From a business perspective, you have got to live with it. You have to take the ups and downs.
"But I think for a number of businesses this could be the final chapter, it could be the nail in the coffin. It won't be a recession this time, it will be the great depression for businesses – it will be survival of the fittest after this.
"Businesses can say they want to stay open but us as landlords and directors of pubs we have to be custodians of public health too. I could be selfish and say I don't know where they are coming from – but for the last three or four weeks you could see it was only going in one direction.
"Our customers are disappointed, we get a variety coming in throughout the day and evening. They look forward to coming out and having a few pints. Over the next four weeks, if this was a normal year, it is normally one of the happiest periods and people are celebrating and looking forward to Christmas."
He added: "If they say we can reopen in December then great, we will. If they say January then we will do that. We are reassuring our customers that we will be reopening when we can."
