STRUGGLING bars and pubs are being unfairly hit by the new coronavirus restrictions, business owners have said.

When Essex enters Tier 2 of the Government’s new coronavirus regulations on Wednesday, hospitality firms will only be able to sell alcohol if they serve “substantial meals” with food.

This means many pubs and bars across Colchester and north Essex will be unable to open during what is their busiest time of the year.

For struggling business owners who’ve invested in making their premises Covid-secure, this has been described as a kick in the teeth.

Tristan Clarke and Ollie Ward run Coda, a popular bar and gig venue in Colchester High Street.

Although they were able to host gigs when lockdown was lifted in June, they will not be able to reopen on Wednesday.

Mr Clarke said: “The pandemic has been a rollercoaster for us and we haven’t known what to expect as the rules change so much.

“In the short term things feel a bit bleak. We have been lucky enough to receive some Government funding as we are a music venue. We will get through the winter, but our concern is for the other bars and pubs in the town centre who can’t reopen.

“There has been a great community spirit amongst us throughout this and we’ve been working together.

“The rules just don’t seem to make sense. It is as if having a substantial meal in front of you will somehow impact on the virus.

“We could open and just serve coffee but for some reason beer is different, I guess the Government think drunk people are the problem.

“It is likely we will open again and we will make it past this but it is such a hard thing to gauge as we can’t think that far ahead.”

“People in our industry like stage managers and musicians have been really struggling and they’ve had no real support at all.”

Mr Ward added: “You can’t plan further than a month down the line as the restrictions change so much.

“We are a wet sales venue. When we were open before capacity was reduced by two thirds and it was difficult enough.

“Bands want to keep playing and they’ve been really good to us, playing for less money or even for free just because they want to keep performing.”

Sarah Capon, landlady of the Railway Tavern in Brightlingsea, said it was “extremely unfair” the tiers are set for the county, rather than for more local areas.

She said: “We invested heavily putting everything in place what was required and our customers behaved impeccably, so presently we cannot understand the difference in what we were doing compared to the customers having food in front of them.

“We haven’t been given any indication that we will be able to reopen before Easter next year.

“It is extremely difficult and worrying times for us but we have put so much in to keeping our local open, so we will do everything in our power to be here in the future.”