DISAPPOINTED, shocked, worried and frustrated are how East Lothian hospitality businesses have described the latest coronavirus restrictions, which mean pubs and restaurants across the county will remain closed until next Sunday (October 25).

All pubs, restaurants and licensed cafes in the Central Belt have been forced to shut, although cafes without a licence to sell alcohol can open until 6pm.

Lewis Moore, from The Pine Marten in Dunbar, said the news was “a kick in the teeth”.

The assistant manager said: “It’s definitely going to slow business down. We are fortunate to have the hotel so will be doing breakfasts and dinners for guests at set times.

“We have a lot of staff who have to take holiday days so they don’t lose out on any money.

“We’re frustrated, we’ve been following the rules, changed the pub about and they go and say: ‘Everything you have done isn’t enough.’ Business was just starting to pick back up again.

“There’s nothing we can do about it, we just have to do our best.”

James Findlay, manager at the Waterside Bistro in Haddington, said the news came as a “shock”.

He said: “We are very lucky that we have great support in East Lothian, I should really put out a thank you to the people that have supported us up till now. People have been really supportive and understanding of the rules so far.

“It’s very sad but we need to do the right thing. We’ll all get by this together.”

“Disappointed”, was the call from Susan Bellany from the Thorntree Inn, Cockenzie.

She said: “It’s difficult and a shame that we have to close. Myself and other establishments have put a lot of work into making safe environments but you worry, and you worry about your staff as well.

“You worry about the people in the community who live alone and come in for a couple of drinks but now have to sit in on their own.

“I was shocked to hear the news.”

Giancarlo’s Italian in Tranent was planning to extend its Eat Out to Help Out deal until the end of October but has now had to cancel all upcoming bookings.

Manager Rafa said: “We are working on our action plan just now. I’m not sure what we will do.

“We are worried but are hoping it’s only going to last two weeks and not months. I didn’t expect it but there is no way around it.”

While it came as a shock to some, others expected a lockdown.

Michelle Foy, manager at The Ship Inn in North Berwick, said: “It’s a little bit backwards but if we’ve got to close we’ve got to close. Everybody is in the same boat.

“We were kind of expecting it but still at the same time its just a bit bizarre. Everyone is also a bit anxious about the furlough scheme as that is due to end soon.

“We’ve been quite strict with everyone that has come in, we’ve been taking temperatures and doing track and trace. People have been saying they feel quite safe.”

Her views were echoed by Lucinda Kent from the Goblin Ha’ in Gifford, who said: “I was pretty much just expecting it really, it wasn’t a total shock. I felt it was coming.”

Nigel Finlay, owner of Staggs Bar in Musselburgh, said: “I knew it was coming, it wasn’t a big surprise. We’re just going to revert back to doing carry-outs. We got by before by doing carry outs, it was successful.”