What Oxford traders think about a return to Covid tiers

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced England would return to a tiered system of local restrictions after lockdown ends on December 2 (see page 3).

But Oxfordshire traders are worried that and easing of restrictions might not be enough to boost trade over the festive season, where usually they make a large amount of their annual income.

Graham Jones, a spokesman for traders' group Rescue Oxford (Backing Oxford Businesses) welcomed news of a return to less strict measures ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

But Mr Jones added: "Shops and hospitality businesses will all asking customers to follow the rules, and if they do then we can have a great lead up to Christmas. Obviously it won't be the normal numbers up to Christmas -- stores have to be able to keep a limit on the number of people allowed in."

The high street representative added he hoped people would still want to head out for the high street experience even after online Black Friday sales began over the last weekend while most shops had to remain closed.

Oxford CAMRA spokesman Dave Richardson said news of a return to the tier system could be good news for the city's pubs, depending on what level of restrictions Oxford was placed in.

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He said: "The end of the 10pm curfew is good news, but as I understand it it is to be last orders at 10pm and then an hour to drink up."

He added: "It is an improvement, but is it going to make that much difference?"

Mr Richardson added it was 'unfortunate' pubs would be allowed to reopen just as students were leaving Oxford for Christmas, but said there was still an opportunity for them to make money from trade in Christmas meals.

CAMRA, which campaigns on behalf of pubs estimates that 72 per cent of pubs in areas where Tier 3 restrictions have been enforced, the highest level, are likely to go out of business by 2021.