Desperate times call for desperate measures…
With lockdown having taken hold across London as COVID-19 ravages the city, business owners have been left in the lurch as they struggle to make ends meat. Bars and clubs have especially been impacted as a result, forcing them to remain shut until London’s second wave is essentially over. However, a couple of venues are getting creative to get around the whole Tier system, with a bar early last week registering itself as a house of worship and now a club serving McDonalds to qualify as a restaurant.
Owner of London’s iconic club G-A-Y Jeremy Joseph worked with local food outlets such as Maccas to be able to offer table service and adhere to the government rule of alcohol only being able to be served with a substantial meal, saying that the ministers who have created the rules have “f*cked up”.
“The Government haven’t really thought about this at all. They are so out of touch. The problem is they haven’t ever had a conversation with hospitality. It’s all very well saying you’ve got to serve food. But that’s not what we do.
“Do they want me to suddenly open a kitchen and start cooking when I have no idea about food hygiene?
The venue has at least been able to run in some capacity, not being able to throw their usual insane parties but instead run just enough so that party-goers can enjoy a good drink and feed.
Joseph’s no stranger to taking the government on however, taking them to court in October over the 10pm curfew for hospitality, which has since been relaxed to 11pm.
The venue has been in business sine the early 90s and has become an institution in London’s nightlife over the years, expanding into multiple venues. One of the venues includes Heaven, which has been host to superstars such as Kylie Minogue and Lady Gaga.
Tiered restrictions in the UK are set to expire on February 2, and will only be extended further with the support of MPs. Fingers crossed everything is under control by then.
