Truro nightclub owner: "I won't reopen" if Covid-19 restrictions aren't relaxed
Warwick Royden has spoken out about face masks, social distancing and fears of another lockdown in the winter
Last updated 6th Jul 2021
Critics are branding the decision to lift almost all remaining coronavirus restrictions in one go as "reckless", as cases rises.
Some medical groups and charities are criticising the move to make face masks voluntary.
Social distancing will also be scrapped from the final lifting of lockdown, if that goes ahead on the 19th July.
There will be no limit on capacity for sporting events, concerts and theatres and nightclubs will be able to reopen too.
Warwick Royden owns The Office in Truro and tells us without the changes, they would have to stay shut.
"If he says masks have to be worn, I won't open. And also the same if he says you have to socially distance in a nightclub, I also won't open because it would be hideous and there would be no point.
"It's impossible to social distance in a nightclub, it is impossible. If they say you can open but you have to socially distance, there would be no point.
"Nightclubs, they cost an awful amount of money to open. Every night, even before you even turn on a light switch, you've got a lot of costs and unless you can run at close to capacity, it's just not worth the hassle.
"And also, wearing a face mask in a club, they're hot. You can't read someone's expressions, especially if you take doormen into account. A lot of their work and their attitude to people is read by their face and if you can't see that, I think they'd feel they were on the back foot.
"The whole point of coming to a nightclub is the experience and you would lose that instantly. It would become very stale and very flat.
"At the moment you can't dance, you can't sing, you can't do anything so obviously that would all have to be relaxed.
"And again, you think of the whole generation of 18-year-olds which are our up-and-coming market now, if they are told that they'll have to wear a mask into a nightclub they'll come once and they'll never come again".
Warwick is also worried about the possibility of another lockdown in the autumn/winter and is calling on the government to provide some reassurance.
"It would be catastrophic for the industry if we are told yep, you open. You spend tens of thousands of pounds on reopening, buying stock and getting staff in and then he says, come October, no you've got to shut your doors again.
"You would just see nightclubs go bust overnight".
Warwick Royden, Owner of The Office in Truro
The Prime Minister has detailed the easing of lockdown restrictions from the 19th of July, if that date goes ahead.
However so-called freedom day will not be confirmed until next week.
You can check the full list of changes to coronavirus lockdown restrictions here.