"BREAK even is the new profit."

That is the reality for those running pubs in Wrexham and Flintshire.

Having spent months in lockdown and then weeks adapting their businesses to adhere to tighter measures to slow the spread of coronavirus, publicans are now faced with another two weeks of "fire-break" lockdown.

Beer and other stock will go to waste and business-owners and their staff will be left in a state of uncertainty as they close their doors at 6pm on Friday, adding that they are in the dark about what will happen at the end of the latest lockdown.

Alex Jones, who runs The Bank Wine Bar on High Street in Wrexham, said the reality for him and others was to weather the storm and keep the business afloat long enough for trade to pick up again when the coronavirus pandemic is under control.

The Leader:

Alex Jones of The Bank in Wrexham

Alex said: "We will be back. As soon as we can we'll be back with the new menu, we're going to have two weeks where we will still be in contact with the staff and will be looking at what we can do. Last time we made a lot of changes to the property but we won't be doing that this time. Because we've been running under so many restrictions, we haven't got the luxury of having spare cash to do anything that we'd want to do.

"Unless December is a normal trading month, January, February, March are a long few months. December is when we usually have office parties, but we won't have that this year. If we are still in local lockdown then like any business we have got to do what we can. Break even is the new profit. We need to keep the wolves from the doors and we'll be here fighting next Christmas. That's what it is about at the moment. Protecting jobs and protecting the business so we are still here when things get back to normal."

He added that many in the hospitality trade felt they were being treated unfairly, especially as they had been forced to adapt their businesses to meet each new set of restrictions.

Alex added: "We seem to be the scapegoat for a lot of it. The pubs doing what we can will cleanliness and social distancing, we close early, we can only have single households in. The pubs that are doing it right, and 99.9 percent are I'm sure, and we're the ones that will close.

"I don't know why hospitality seems to be the one getting the blame."

Another issue is uncertainty. Some stock ordered before the lockdown was confirmed will go to waste and businesses don't know what to order ahead of the lockdown ending.

"We are going to be closing for two weeks which means we're going to have to run down our stocks this week. If there's any beer left in the pipes that's going to be waste because it's not going to be safe to drink in two weeks. For a pub, restaurant, or any business, its not just a matter of turning off the computers off and locking the door. We have to look at our stock, look at what we can dispose of, what can be kept and what can't, and what we are going to do with what needs to be disposed of.

"It's only two weeks, but restaurants and pubs can take a lot of money in two weeks. We've already adjusted our business plan to accommodate everything that's been asked of us so far. Now we're being closed completely for two weeks and I'm sceptical that we will reopen again because I can't see them turning the taps straight back on again."

On Tuesday, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales - Ken Skates said businesses is Wales will be supported by both the UK Government and boosted by the Welsh Government's funding capacity.

Many local businesses are now working to access that and existing funding and support.

Alex added: "As long as the financial package comes we can keep the jobs we have created and maintained. We are working through that now and when the grants Ken Skates has talked about today, when they become available, we will apply for them. That's the big thing, making sure we can still pay the wages."

Brian Vardy, chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) in Chester and South Clwyd, agrees with many licensees that the hospitality industry is getting a raw deal in terms of restrictions and lockdowns.

He referenced the heads of Manchester breweries Joseph Holt, Hydes, Thwaites, JW Lees, and Robinson’s who arguing against tougher restrictions that “would be a deliberate political act of wilful economic destruction, visited upon the North for no gain.”

A joint statement said: “The current government policy to single out pubs for closure in Tier 3 with inadequate support is a national disgrace.

“It is clear, and the statistics show, that transmission of the coronavirus is happening in education, care homes, hospitals and the home."

Mr Vardy said: "I'm not and neither is CAMRA in any way shape or form against trying to solve this covid problem. But both CAMRA and quite a few politicians have now said that there is really no proof that covid is being transmitted in pubs.

"I think pubs are an easy target. They can close pubs and say we've sorted this out now. But there really is no evidence."

"The other point is, this is just me not necessarily CAMRA official policy, but I would suggest that if people are going to have a drink, and you can't stop people drinking, then it is much safer for them to have a drink in a controlled, policed environment such as a pub as opposed to somewhere they might otherwise get together.

"I don't know a single pub landlord or licensee that hasn't gone to great lengths to ensure that they have a safe environment and they do police what the behaviour is within their establishment."