Four More Weeks of ‘Step 3’

Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister about England’s ‘road out of lockdown’ brought a mixture of good and bad news for Ruddington’s hospitality businesses. Boris Johnson confirmed, as anticipated, that ‘Step 4’ – which he dubbed “Freedom Day” – will be delayed by a month due to concerns about the continuing spread of the more infectious and vaccine-resistant ‘Delta’ Coronavirus variant in the UK. He said this pause should allow the vaccination of around five million more people before remaining restrictions are lifted. Here in Ruddington, the latest Government data indicates COVID-19 is…

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Indoor Hospitality Reopens

This week’s milestone date of Monday 17th May has been pencilled in our diaries for a few months now – the point promised on the ‘roadmap’ for a further easing of Coronavirus restrictions in England – assuming all went to plan. Hospitality venues in Ruddington preparing to reopen indoors had begun wondering in recent days whether clusters of cases of the new ‘Indian’ COVID-19 variant in other parts of the UK might put a spanner in the works – following fresh warnings from some scientists not to proceed with ‘Step 3’…

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No Beer from the Pub!

In another blow to our hospitality venues, one of the new restrictions added by the Government in the third ‘National lockdown’ is that public houses in England can no longer serve takeaway alcohol from their premises. Whilst no initial mention was made of this by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his Monday night announcement (4th January 2021), it’s since been revealed that such venues are now restricted to selling alcohol by delivery only – meaning beer collection services being successfully run by pubs such as The Frame Breakers in Ruddington…

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Ruddington Moves to Tier 4

Today’s Government announcement that Nottinghamshire, like most of the East Midlands, will move into England’s highest level of current Coronavirus restrictions from New Year’s Eve means that Ruddington will almost be back in ‘Lockdown’ for a third time. It follows growing concerns about the new and apparently much more infectious variant of COVID-19 which is spreading alarmingly across Britain – leading to record numbers of confirmed new infections and hospitalizations. Starting at 00:01 on Thursday December 31st, our shift up to Tier 4 effectively returns us to the ‘lockdown’ rules of…

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Ruddington’s One Day ‘COVID’ Christmas

The new and more infectious mutation of the Coronavirus, which is now spreading alarmingly across Britain, has caused dozens of countries to suspend travel from the UK as well as halting freight across The English Channel – leading to worries about food shortages. It’s also confounded festive plans for many in our village and beyond. Not only must our many hospitality businesses remain closed throughout (except for takeaways or delivery) but any long distance family get-togethers in our homes have had to be cancelled, too. For now, Ruddington remains in Tier 3 – which is…

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Hospitality Hit Hardest by ‘Return’ to Tier 3

Today’s news that Ruddington will fall back under Tier 3 restrictions when the current ‘lockdown’ ends has not come as a great surprise to residents and traders. However, the Government’s decision to make revised Tier 3 measures even harsher for the hospitality sector has understandably caused dismay among our many village pub, restaurant and cafe owners. From December 2nd they’ll find themselves remaining under the same restrictions as during the current COVID-19 ‘lockdown’, rather than being able to open again if they are serving substantial meals, as previously. So, in line with the…

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‘So Far So Good’ Say Police

Rushcliffe Police say Saturday’s easing of ‘lockdown’ restrictions – meaning Ruddington’s numerous pubs and other hospitality venues could reopen their premises – did not create any major issues for its officers. As we reported on ‘Super Saturday’ (July 4th), the new freedoms saw the centre of our village the busiest it’s been for many months (top photo) helped by the return of the Ruddington Village Market, on The Green. Most villagers and visitors seemed to be adhering to the required ‘social distancing’ guidelines. Julie Smith of the Black Cat Café tells us:…

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Hello to Hospitality and Haircuts in Ruddington

Dubbed ‘Super Saturday’, TODAY sees the latest step in the Government’s easing down of COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ restrictions. Our village pubs, cafés, bars, restaurants, barbers and hairdressers are now permitted to open for the first time since March 20th. It seems the majority in Ruddington are actually doing so. Much work has been going on behind the scenes over the past few weeks whilst the owners and tenants of village venues of many different shapes and sizes have been working out if, how and when they can be ‘Covid safe’ to reopen…

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Ruddington Pubs, Cafés and Restaurants Must Now Shut

In the fight against COVID-19, with cases of Coronavirus rapidly increasing, and England’s death toll tragically rising to 167 today, it was inevitable that this country would soon need to fall in line with many others around the world by enforcing even tighter restrictions on our everyday lives. That time came this afternoon when, at Boris Johnson’s now customary daily briefing, the Prime Minister asked for all the UK’s cafés, pubs, restaurants, nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres to close “as soon as they reasonably can”.  Mr Johnson urged people not…

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Schools Out on Friday!

Working parents in Ruddington have now got another potential headache – as all schoolchildren will be sent home for an indefinite period on Friday (20th March) due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this afternoon that all Schools in England and Wales will close at the end of this week – except for those looking after the children of key workers and vulnerable children – such as those who might go hungry without their daily school meals. Education secretary Gavin Williamson has also said school exams will not…

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