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Manchester chef Simon Wood says he’ll stay open if the government close restaurants again
‘I’ll tell them to shove it and stay open and they can fine me if they want’
Manchester chef Simon Wood has threatened to tell the government to ‘shove it’ if they impose new restrictions and close restaurants.
The former MasterChef winner, who owns and runs Wood restaurant in Manchester’s city centre, replied to a tweet made by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, which questioning the government’s alleged plan to limit restaurants to outdoor service only.
The mayor wrote: “Outdoor only? Have they been to Manchester in December?! You can’t help but think they’re trying to think of any old excuse to avoid a financial support scheme for hospitality.”
At this, Wood replied by saying he’s in the right mind to tell the government to ‘shove it’, saying they can ‘fine me if they want to’ and calling for other hospitality bosses to do the same thing.
The chef wrote: “I’m actually of a mind to say if they close us I’ll tell them to shove it and stay open and they can fine me if they want. If enforced closures come maybe everyone should do it until they support us properly.”
Though this isn’t the first time Wood has voiced his frustration over the ongoing issues experienced across the hospitality industry; on that same day, he tweeted a sarcastic message of thanks to a table of six who cancelled their booking at the very last minute before deactivating their bank cards.
He tweeted: “Big thanks to the table of six who have cancelled last minute tonight and then deactivated their card to avoid charges Sound, Nice one…”
@woodrestaurants / Instagram
This comes after reports outlined the three scenarios presented to the government by scientists amid a rise in Omicron Covid cases.
According to the Telegraph, Boris Johnson was presented with three options for tougher restrictions, the first being the lowest level possible and asking people to limit their indoor contacts.
The second option, however, is said to bring in a full ban on indoor household mixing, reintroduce social distancing in all public areas and bring in an 8pm curfew on pubs and restaurants, as well as limiting them to outdoor service only, while the third is a full national lockdown.
Last night, the Prime Minister ruled out immediately imposing further Covid restrictions, though said he will not hesitate to do so if the data shows it is necessary.