A Carlisle restaurant owner has said hospitality businesses face a “Catch-22” situation as they seek to drum up vital business ahead of an uncertain winter.

James Hill, who runs the Quarter Lounge in Carlisle city centre and the Lounge on the Green in Houghton, said that despite the desperate need for hospitality businesses to generate custom in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown, many restaurants and other venues are “scared” to advertise for fear of being criticised for encouraging travel to public spaces.

This is in spite of the fact the rules allow for such travel to take place.

Mr Hill said the situation was particularly complicated for venues in Carlisle, given the now differing rules for businesses on each side of the border.

He was speaking after receiving some criticism for a post in which he encouraged customers just across the border to make a booking at his Quarter Lounge restaurant, noting the new four-hour difference in opening times between hospitality businesses in England and Scotland – and the restriction on alcohol sales in Scottish restaurants.

The social media post, now deleted, announced a Scottish-themed addition to the restaurant’s menu and a new 'Sturgeon Fury' cocktail.

While Mr Hill said 90 per cent of those reacting to the social media advertisement found it humorous and supported the levity, a small number called the post “irresponsible."

Mr Hill said he believed those who reacted negatively failed to understand that the Scottish Government has not placed restrictions on residents in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders travelling to Carlisle – their closest city.

“I don’t think people understand how closely connected Carlisle is with the Scottish borders,” he said. “Carlisle is the closest city to Dumfries and Galloway and part of the Scottish Borders. We’re so interconnected in these areas.

“Carlisle is used by people living in Dumfries and Galloway for shopping. Asda in Carlisle is used by a lot of people in the Gretna and Annan areas.”

Mr Hill said that this experience highlighted how “mixed rules don’t work for the border regions,” owing to the confusion that it sows among residents.

He said this was particularly frustrating given how uncertain the immediate future is.

“I just can’t take Christmas bookings right now," he said. "And we’ve no idea what to do about New Year's.

“We can’t advertise anything. So I find it a bit insulting when I do have a bit of fun with advertising that I’m called a profiteer, and accused of only thinking about myself, and that I’m putting money before lives.

“I’m not. I’m trying to get money in to support my staff.

“That’s the hard thing to swallow about this.

“That post was pretty much the only bit of advertising I’ve done recently.

“Businesses in our industry are scared to advertise at the moment, for fear of people thinking we’re trying to push people to come, and then be slated for being busy. It’s Catch-22.”

Mr Hill added that there has been “great support” so far for businesses in the hospitality trade.

“The economic packages so far have been good. The furlough scheme has been fantastic. The flexible furlough scheme has been good,” he said.

But at present, the exact nature of the landscape for the industry is causing particular pain for the sector, Mr Hill said.

“We will by all means stick to whatever rules are put in place. But I am simply hoping for them to be clear.

“Were a 6pm closure in our area be brought in for example, I could just make it work. But I want to know that it’s coming.

“I would love to see the rules nailed down for the next three months – let us model our businesses on them.”