It is an especially difficult time for pubs in Cumbria and further afield currently with a mixture of dwindling customer numbers, unworkable regulations and safety concerns meaning many venues are facing making very difficult decisions.

The Rose & Crown's landlady of 19 years, Linda Norman has explained the impact that Tier 2 regulations have had on the popular Low Hesket haunt.

“We decided to shut the week before Christmas. We aren’t intending to reopen for the foreseeable future apart from takeaways.”

She details her reasons for taking this decision saying: “Firstly, we have a very big building and a lot of our customers, unless they are couples, come to meet other regulars and they couldn’t do so anymore under Tier 2 restrictions, so numbers started to dwindle as they weren’t from the same households.”

“When you consider heating costs, lighting and keeping the beer in the cellar right, as well as staff costs and rent to the brewery, it wasn’t financially viable.

She added: “Because customers must be seated, there is an increase in the work that you have to do meaning you have to employ more staff, for far less custom.”

“So we were losing more money by opening than staying shut. We were operating at 20 per cent capacity.”

For Mrs Norman, equally as hard has been experiencing a reduced role in the community due to the pandemic.

“It’s just so hard. We see ourselves as the heart of the community.

“There’s no point telling pubs they can open if it’s not safe. Otherwise, for a host of reasons, it’s not worth the risk.

“The social aspect for some of our customers has gone. Covid-19 has changed everything that a pub is supposed to be.”

She is quick to point out, however, that she understands that many customers feel they simply must stay away at this time.

“For those in their 70s and 80s, they are doing the right thing by staying away and looking after themselves.

“A lot of our customers have been very understanding which I’m grateful for.

“I’ve been here 19 years and to me, those who come into our pub are not just customers, they are friends. We’ve been part of this village as a place where people can come together and it’s something I miss.”

In the meantime, she is calling for the Government to listen to the concerns of many pubs such as the Rose & Crown.”

“A big problem is that the Government have made a blanket rule for all pubs in Tier 2 regardless of whether they are wet-led, in the countryside or in a city. There are totally different circumstances at play.

“British pubs are unique and I feel a lot will not survive this. I will be devastated after 19 years if that were to happen to us.”

“We fully intend to reopen when it is fully financially viable to do so. Tier 2 is simply not a viable business environment.”