The leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council has asked Boris Johnson for more help for the Potteries' 6,000 pubs, cafes and restaurants – which face a 'bleak end to the year' due to Covid-19 restrictions.

From today Stoke-on-Trent will be subject to the toughest tier three restrictions following the end of the national lockdown, meaning hospitality businesses can only operate on a takeway or delivery basis.

These rules will be in place until at least December 16, when the government plans to review the tiering system.

City council leader Abi Brown has now written an open letter to the Prime Minister pleading for additional support for Stoke-on-Trent's hospitality sector, on top of the existing grant schemes.

She claims that the city's geography will make it hard for many businesses to survive as takeaways until the restrictions are eased.

Mrs Brown wrote: "From our market cafes to our craft ale pubs, the tea rooms at our ceramic attractions to the eclectic independents in our city and town centres, and of course the chain pubs, bars and restaurants, our hospitality sector continues to make our city a great place to live, work and visit.

"However, currently our hospitality sector – which makes up roughly 10 per cent of our economy, around 6,000 businesses, many SMEs – are struggling to maintain their businesses under the current tiering system.

"Whilst they have shown traditional Stoke-on-Trent entrepreneurialism to adapt, it will be a disappointing and bleak end to the year for most. In a linear city, the takeaway option is difficult, and several business owners have told me that they are simply adapting to 'ensure people remember us' until they can reopen their doors.

"Whilst they have been able to access some grants, the lack of ongoing support, whether to keep employees on furlough or ensure there is a business to return to, is a real concern to me as the leader of our small but mighty city."

These are the rules that will apply in Tier 3 areas

Stoke-on-Trent, along with the rest of Staffordshire, has been placed in tier three due to the city's relatively high infection rates and hospital admissions.

But local infection rates are falling and city council leaders hope that Stoke-on-Trent will be moved to tier two later this month.

In tiers one and two hospitality businesses are permitted to serve customers on their premises, but are still subject to rules relating to table service and opening hours. In tier two, venues can only serve alcohol with 'substantial meals'.

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Rob Ledgar, landlord of The Coachmakers Arms, in Hanley, agrees that more support should be available for venues hit by the Covid restrictions.

He will receive a grant of £1,334 for the month, which he says is 'nowhere near enough' to make up for the pub's lost income.

Rob said: "It will just about cover the rent, but not the gas or electrics. It doesn't take into account the fact that November and December are our busiest periods. They usually give us enough to get us through January and February, which are the quietest months.

"I think there needs to be some sort of compensation scheme for businesses like ours. It just seems that pubs are being picked on. There have been hardly any infections linked to pubs, compared to schools and universities."