After a month subsisting like Junior Soprano under house-arrest we were all really looking forward to opening again on December 3rd. Last week, this seemed workable, the guidance was thin (no surprises) and we tentatively teamed up with Yard Sale to re-think our spot as a subsidiary pizza parlour.

However, over the weekend, we did a lot of soul-searching and came to the sad conclusion that we won’t be able to open under the Tier 2 restrictions. For clarity, this is our logic:

• We are not a restaurant and attempting to be one with food outsourced and when our customers have limited funds to spend could do long-term damage to the business for very short-term gains.

• Whatever way you cut it, we are what would be termed as ‘wet-led’: and if you dig through the fog of drivel, Cornish pasties and scotch eggs being spouted from those who really should know better; the government do not want places like ours open in Tier 2 (they really should just say this).

• By opening we would forfeit all financial support available. Whilst this isn’t much, it would be a lot to forgo on top of the already risky conditions of trading as a false restaurant.

And look, none of this is easy. As a team, this has been one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make, to write off the festive period after the year we’ve had really is beyond wretched. It puts the business in an incredibly difficult position heading into January (and winter proper) without further assistance from a government that still have zero grasp on the machinations of our industry or small, independent businesses. Every choice we’ve made since March has been guided by acting in the best interests of the health of our staff and customers - we do not want to deviate from this path to chase the festive pound.

We will return stronger when it is totally safe to do so. In the meantime, we send you all love and kindness and only ask you pass it on in whatever way you can.

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