CONCERNS have been raised over how pubs can keep customers coming after the Government imposed new restrictions and a 10pm curfew.

Pubs across the UK now have to close their doors early following the latest move to stop the number of Covid-19 cases skyrocketing.

Staff in pubs will also have to wear face masks.

The new restrictions have sparked fresh concerns from pub bosses worried about staying afloat during the Covid-19 crisis.

With pubs closing earlier, they are unlikely to be able to sell as much food and drink as before.

It comes after many pubs have been forced to make staff cuts with some, such as the Griffin in Halstead, being forced to close their doors for good.

The pub was owned by Darran Lingley who was forced to close the Griffin and Three Horseshoes in Fordham as they were unable to break even.

Darran still owns two pubs in the area – the Five Bells in Colne Engaine and the Lion in Earls Colne.

However, Darran’s main concern isn’t the opening times, but keeping customers’ interest in still coming to the pub.

He said: “As both my pubs have implemented the guidelines to the letter, we haven’t had to change what we do.

“We predicted that the later we served people the more their social distancing would decrease so we shut earlier from day one.

“Some of my teams elected to wear masks so all of us wearing them isn’t a problem.

“What our biggest hurdle will be is creating a positive experience so they want to come back again.

“We as an industry must work hard to make this work.

“But the population must do their bit to make it work.

“The virus doesn’t move on its own.

“We move or assist it to spread by our actions.”