A Macclesfield pub which has only had a few weeks of "normal trade" since opening has criticised the government's handling of the pandemic as England prepares to go into a second national lockdown.

The Shamrock Bar on Mill Street first opened their doors on 28 February and quickly built up a loyal customer base, only to be forced to shut weeks later as the Coronavirus spread across the world.

Samantha Doherty, the owner of the bar, told Macclesfield Nub News: "I haven't had a full month of being opened in normal circumstances yet. When we first opened, we had acts and bands on, it was six people deep at the bar and people were waiting outside on a one in one out system.

"We had a capacity of 120 and now we're at 30. We've already been impacted massively by the restrictions."

Despite the negative impact, Samantha said she has been able to "think outside the box" on ways to keep her punters happy, with acts performing in the pub, and events such as last weekend's costume competition, all within the guidelines.

On the upcoming lockdown, Samantha described it as "doable" from a financial position if it only lasts for the intended month. "If it's more than a month and we miss Christmas, that's going to have a big effect," she added.

She said her main concern was for her elderly customers, for whom the pub is one of the only times they are able to be in a social setting.

"They haven't been able to sit with other people, so I've put the tables and chairs in such a position where they're still a metre away from each other but they can still have a conversation, because that's the only conversation they have all day, or even all week," Samantha said.

The landlady said the government were making the hospitality industry a "scapegoat" for the rise in infections. "Every customer that comes in, we make them do track and trace, we make them sanitise their hands. You're safer here than you are in a supermarket."

Samantha has also been critical of restrictions on the industry up until now, in particular the 10pm curfew, which she said has forced her to get people out of the pub who end up closer in groups outside. "The politicians just don't think like us," she added.

During the lockdown, the Shamrock Bar's 15th century building will undergo work on areas such as the kitchen or floors.

Asked what her hopes are going into her second year in business, Samantha said: "Just to carry on with what we were doing really. I very much doubt the disease will be gone or we'll be anywhere near back to the normality of pre-Covid. But if we can at least be open and making some money, that's all you can wish for."

The bar has been decorated to commemorate Remembrance Day and will spend its final night on Wednesday hosting a 1940s style singer.

For more information, visit the Shamrock Bar Facebook page.

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