Northampton's venues face business overhaul if they want to welcome customers back this month

Northampton's venues are faced with another uncertain month this December as they grapple with restrictions that could change every two weeks.

As a 'Tier Two' area, pubs and restaurants in Northampton will be able to serve alcohol to customers if they are buy a "substantial meal" with their drinks.

But the town's biggest venues and grassroots music pubs are up against different challenge if they want to welcome customers back.

Government guidance for "cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sports stadia" states that alcohol can be ordered at a bar and drank in a seated area - and even then, it has to be for a ticketed performance.

It means the town's venues are faced with either ensuring every performance is ticketed and seated, or pivoting towards serving meals indoors - or just staying closed and claiming Government support until the outlook is more stable.

Even then, the tiers for each county is set to be reviewed every two weeks, and if Northamptonshire's infection rates are not under control then venues trying to welcome back customers could be forced to drop everything all over again.

Normally, The Picturedrome pub on Kettering Road holds events throughout the year together with his two bars and stage.

This week, the venue's team announced they are "really looking forward to having people back" through the use of the 'ticketed performance' rule.

By contrast, The Lab grassroots venue on Charles Street is opting to come back as a restaurant with a range of curries and is planning ticketed performances throughout December.

The Lab told the Chronicle and Echo: "We will be doing events throughout December, with details to follow very shortly, and they will be ticketed. However it is likely we will be selling food at all events anyway."

One of Northampton's largest venues, The Roadmender - which has been shut since March - will reopen its doors in December for a set of ticketed "Christmas Cracker" family shows, with festive songs, Santa's grotto and live entertainment.It comes just a few weeks after Northampton's King Billy Rock Bar announced it had no choice but to close down permanently ahead of the second lockdown. The rock pub relied on income drummed up by hosting more than 300 live bands a year.

Meanwhile, The Royal & Derngate is unable to open its theatre, but the Northampton Filmhouse will welcome audiences back on December 11.