A POPULAR Lake District wedding venue has voiced concerns about the government’s delay in easing of lockdown restrictions.

The Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa at Bassenthwaite has long been a popular venue for couples to marry, but it estimates it could loose up to £7,000 a wedding now that full restrictions will not ease next week as planned.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson did announce that the 30-person cap for wedding ceremonies and receptions will be lifted, but venues would have to set limits based on social distancing requirements.

The hotel's general manager Simon Steele feels the UK's vaccine rollout has been a great success that it should allow for restrictions to be lifted and let the country re-open again as normal.

The UK hospitality industry has been monumentally affected over the past year due to the virus, with weddings being restricted to 30 people by law.

June 21 would have seen all restrictions lifted, but last night's announcement has dampened the hopes of many couples and wedding venues until at least the end of July.

Mr Steele said: “If restrictions are not lifted for weddings, the impact in terms of revenue will be significant for Armathwaite Hall. From June 21 up until the end of August, we have 32 weddings booked. Ten to 12 of those weddings are over 100 people; if couples have to cut numbers and if, for example that could be a loss of £7,000 revenue per wedding.

"I think restrictions need to be lifted now. Our vaccination rollout has been incredibly successful, so much so that we’re now vaccinating people between the ages of 25-29. To what extent does the country need to be vaccinated before we can open the world up again?

"2020 was a write-off for weddings, unfortunately, but the easing of restrictions has been a time couples have counted down to. In addition, the impact of extending these restrictions and not allowing us to open properly will continue to severely impact the hospitality industry.”

The Prime Minister announced the setback to the final phase of his plan to end the lockdown on Monday due to concerns over the rapidly spreading Delta variant first identified in India.

Experts feared going ahead with Step 4 on Monday could lead to hospital admissions on the scale of the first wave, putting pressure on the health service.

Mr Johnson said during a Downing Street press conference that it is "sensible to wait just a little longer" as he put back the end of all legal limits on social contact to July 19, saying he is "confident" no further delay will be necessary.