PUBS and restaurants said they are fearing for the future after being hit with 'constant' cancellations since the government advised people to minimise social contact in the run-up to Christmas.

Venues said the hospitality industry has been 'hung out to dry' with customers urged to stay away amid the emergence of the Omicron Covid variant - but with no financial support to pick up the shortfall.

Bournemouth Echo: Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty (left) and Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (Covid-19). Picture date: Wednesday December 15, 2021..

The industry had been hoping for a bumper Christmas season to keep them in business after last year's festivities were essentially cancelled amid the pandemic.

But one venue said the dire situation had forced its owners to make the difficult decision to close for two days a week in the new year, while others pleaded for government support as their venues remain unseasonally quiet.

Megan McCann, marketing manager at Silent Woman Inn near Wareham said: “We’ve had quite a few cancellations between groups of 2-25 for Christmas parties which is definitely impacting our business. The food is freshly prepared by the chefs so that is going to waste.

“One emailed this morning to cancel. It is just constant.”

The cancellations have brought much uncertainty to the industry as The Silent Woman Inn decides being open every night is no longer a viable option - meaning they may no longer be able to offer the hours staff need.

Ms McCann said: “We did not want to make the decision but unfortunately we’ve decided opening seven days a week is not sustainable anymore so we are closing for two nights a week in the new year.

“We’re struggling all round. Help for the industry needs to be looked at and reviewed.

“I’d like to say to people that we can accommodate small groups or separate bookings. Perhaps you might want to rebook in the New Year or get a voucher but we are all in this together and we need to support local businesses - pubs, bars and shops.”

In Weymouth at Nautico Lounge, assistant manager Ciaran Telford told the Echo that only a matter of weeks ago he was looking forward to the return of the festive period but in light of recent events that outlook is not so positive.

Mr Telford said: “It’s certainly not as busy as it is normally at this time of year. Our sister pub Vivo in Dorchester has had lots of cancellations, losing big money.

“When I look around a week before Christmas it’s usually full and I look around now at lunchtime and we are a quarter full at best so it really is having an impact.”

Further afield in East Knighton The Countryman Inn has had many people drop out including a lot of NHS Christmas parties who have ‘been told to cancel’.

Bournemouth Echo: The Countryman Inn

Assistant manager Tasha Clerk said: “We have had a lot of people cancel for Christmas day who are willing to all lose their deposit.

“We need more help because not as many people are coming out and if we are socially distanced again we’re not going to get as many customers through the door.”

A manager at the Red Lion in Weymouth said they’d had as many people drop out as they had come in as the industry faces another tough Christmas.