Belfast restaurant sending bill to Stormont for shutdown

By Michael McHugh, PA

A Belfast restaurant co-owner is sending a bill of more than £6,000 to Stormont’s first and deputy first ministers for costs incurred before they dashed hopes of reopening this weekend.

Peter Ringland co-owns the Town Square cafe bar in Botanic Avenue and said it was “ridiculous” to be told on Thursday evening that he had to remain shut.

His “invoice” covers the cost of staff wages for preparing food, restocking drinks and tradespeople restoring services like heating.

He said: “They do not understand that lack of decision making has a big impact on businesses financially and emotionally, with all the staff waiting to see whether they will be in work the next day.”

The total came to £6,178.46.

He told the BBC’s Evening Extra programme: “We created this invoice with the intention of trying to show politicians that lack of decision making has a big impact on businesses.

“It is not as simple as keeping the doors locked for another few weeks.

“A lot of work goes on behind the scenes and that has financial repercussions.”