The Island is preparing to take a hit after the new 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The Prime Minister announced the new measures to curb coronavirus on Tuesday.

Staff and customers must also wear face masks, except while seated at a table to eat or drink.

Giancarlo Giancovich, of the Smoking Lobster, Ventnor, says the curfew would have a significant impact on his business, and that he is already seeing a shift in mentality.

"Now that they've made they changes, it's put a lot of doubt in people's minds and we're already seeing cancellations," said Gian.

"In March, it started off gradual and then, two weeks before lockdown, we had an empty restaurant.

Isle of Wight County Press:

The Smoking Lobster exterior, Ventnor.

"In their minds, people are thinking 'it's going to get risky again'.

"With the numbers flying up in the news, I think a lot of older people will be scared to come out and will cancel all their bookings.

"Anything now that makes the public worried will go against the business.

"We always run a table service, so that won't be a problem, but the curfew will massively affect our business.

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"The tables all sit here until 10.30/11pm drinking, and customers spend a lot more money on alcohol.

"With us taking last orders at 8pm, and them being booted out at ten, it doesn't give them the freedom to feel relaxed.

"Obviously, we've just got to work with it and find ways to make our money back."

Isle of Wight County Press:

The Smoking Lobster interior, Ventnor.

Pete Booth, of the Travellers' Joy, Northwood, says it's the table-service requirement which will impact his business the most.

"We're only a little family-run pub with a couple of members of staff, and we've got a big back garden," said Pete.

"If there's someone in the garden who wants to order a drink, we've got to take their order, ring it through the till, take the order out to them ­— then they have to pay, and then we have to give them their change.

"It's going to be like four visits to one table.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Travellers Joy owners, Pete and Sam Booth.

"We're very limited with the amount of staff we can take on board, and it might come to a point where we will have to close our garden for orders.

"Doing that will massively affect our business ­— the garden holds up to 100 people.

"Also, where our internet is so bad, we can't use a PDQ machine in the garden because of the signal, and most people are paying by card now.

"With the face masks, we're thinking of running some games of Who Am I? with names on the front of their masks to lighten the mood.

"The curfew shouldn't be a problem. We might lose some money on a Thursday and Friday when the local lads come in, but hopefully they'll come in a couple of hours early."

Jay Chapman, of the Old Village Inn, Bembridge, says his business was already following most of the new guidelines.

"We took it very seriously from day one. To be honest, I'm quite surprised other businesses weren't doing that," said Jay.

"The curfew isn't an issue so much ­— the problem is the drinking up time side of it.

Isle of Wight County Press:

The Old Village Inn, Bembridge.

"We're being told you have to have your doors physically shut by 10pm.

"Most of my staff won't be able to leave until 11pm after cleaning up.

"Under licensing rules, you have responsibility to disperse your patrons in a sensible manner.

"I'm now throwing all 120 people out into the street at the same time. I thought the whole point of this was to try and keep people separate.

"Whoever made these rules obviously doesn't own or operate a pub.

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"I don't mind being the police on this, but why am I being fined £10,000 if I get it wrong?

"I don't see why we, as an industry, should be fined on something we have absolutely no idea on.

"You're dealing with members of the public who just see you as the person stopping them from drinking.

"We're lucky we have sensible customers."

Paul Rowling, of the Bandstand, Sandown, says he is confident the changes will not significantly affect his business.

"We do table service anyway, and the 10pm curfew doesn't really affect us in any way ­— we're usually closed by then.

"The face masks aren't a problem, though it seems a bit late to be telling us to do these things ­— we didn't wear them before because we were told we didn't need to."

Isle of Wight County Press:

The Bandstand, Sandown.