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This time of year is usually spent getting woozy on mulled wine and seeing how many Christmas dinners you can eat in one month, but as we all know, 2020 does not care for traditions. Any plans for festive eating and drinking at the city’s restaurants and pubs in the run-up to Christmas have been scuppered following the government’s announcement yesterday (Monday December 14), that London will be going into Tier 3 as of 00.01 on Wednesday December 16.
The move means that all restaurants, bars, pubs and cafés will have to close, which has left the capital’s hospitality businesses concerned about food waste, with venues having stocked up for December bookings that can’t go ahead now.
That went well. Fridges full to bursting. pic.twitter.com/c8WaMKUnj6
— Stevie Parle (@StevieParle) December 14, 2020
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I’m angry. There have been murmurings about Tier 3 in London, but to leak news saying it’s enforced THIS WEDNESDAY on MONDAY AFTERNOON when many restaurants have ordered perishable stock for the new week, created rotas for staff, taken bookings, is just so cruelly inconsiderate.
— Mangal 2 Restaurant (@Mangal2) December 14, 2020
Many businesses hoped to recoup some of the profits lost this year in the period before Christmas, so the move to Tier 3 has left them in a precarious position. London chefs and restaurant owners have shared their despair on Twitter, including Asma Khan, who recently opened Darjeeling Express in Covent Garden, and Marcus Wareing, chef-patron of Marcus in Knightsbridge.
The sword of Damocles hanging over hospitality. When this is over-we need to understand the depth of mismanagement by our government. We need answers on why hospitality was scapegoated-also we were not united enough in our response-it was the “big boys” who spoke up for their own
— Asma Khan (@Asma_KhanLDN) December 14, 2020
Once again Hospitality screwed over again but don’t worry we can still go shopping,🤷♂️ I really do have to Q Gov. Why not Close the country down again push the virus back, roll out vaccine, open in March take the hit and stop this pathetic mismanagement.
— Marcus Wareing (@marcuswareing) December 14, 2020
Meanwhile, the founders of Hackney restaurant Pidgin have launched a crowdfunding campaign to help keep the restaurant afloat, which has already raised more than £25,000.
Hey, Pidgin is in a bit of a pickle. We're running a Gofundme https://t.co/HDcLrz1RVD to raise some cash to get through this COVID disasterpiece. If you can contribute in return for vouchers/wine tastings/James and I 'cooking' for you.....We'd be incredibly grateful. 1/2
— Sam Of Herlihy (@samuelherlihy) December 14, 2020
It’s a bleak time for the city’s hospitality industry, much of which will now pivot back to takeaway while London remains in Tier 3.
So, how to tackle the inevitable food waste and support your favourite businesses? If you’ve had to cancel dinner reservations or plans for #substantialmeals at the pub, now’s the time to go big on takeaways and the many innovative DIY meal kits on offer. Sure, it’s not exactly the same as going out, but eating your way through December from home sounds like a pretty great way to end a very shit year tbh.
Need some inspiration?
We tried all of London's most hyped meal kits – these were the best.
Best dishes of 2020: London chefs reveal the tastiest things they ate this year.