Morecambe pub and hotel won't re-open on July 4 out of concern for safety of staff

In a message to customers, Rod Taylor, who also runs care homes in the Morecambe Bay area, said that he is not yet confident that staff will be safe in their workplace.

Mr Taylor said that in his role as a care home manager, he is "more cautious than most people" about the Covid-19 pandemic and the potential for further spread of the virus.

He said: "It has been a trying and time for us all and the sooner we return to some sort of normality the better.

"Having managed the care homes, looking after 97 vulnerable people and more than 100 plus staff), through the Covid-19 pandemic and experiencing the frontline of this pandemic, I am, perhaps, a little more cautious than most people.

"As much as we want to re-open the doors at The Morecambe Hotel, I have to put the brakes on that until I am comfortable and confident that our valuable staff are as safe as possible in their workplace and we can provide our loyal customers with the quality and service that we have built our reputation on.

"I certainly would not take the steps required to open the doors until I am confident of those two factors.

"So the decision has been taken not to open our doors on July 4.

"We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and give you as much notice as possible when our doors re-open again.

"Please continue to stay safe and well, we look forward to seeing you soon."

The Morecambe Hotel, in Lord Street, opened in 2016 and has proved very popular both with locals and visitors alike.

Many pubs, restaurants, hotels, B&Bs and campsites across the Lancaster district are gearing up to re-open on July 4, following the latest announcement from government.