Tears and cheers from Tier-change winners and losers as 'completely drained' business owners put into Three say they are 'devastated' but Bristolians celebrate heading down to Two

The latest Tier changes  

MOVING TO TIER 3 

MOVING FROM TIER 3 TO TIER 2 

MOVING FROM TIER 2 TO TIER 1

Devastated business owners are up in arms over the extension of Matt Hancock's Tier 3 curbs across vast swathes of southern England amid rising coronavirus cases.

Around four million people are being moved into the toughest restrictions from Friday, with local restaurateurs, hoteliers and theatre owners forced to either remain closed or shutter their premises over the Christmas period.

Thousands of planned family festive trips to Legoland in Berkshire, as well as Center Parcs in Sherwood, have now been thrown into jeopardy as cancellations loom on the horizon.

Warner Bros Studio Tour in Watford has already closed in anticipation of the move to Tier restrictions and is extending its refund period to cover all visits from December 16 to January 3 inclusive. 

But people will still be able to visit LaplandUK in Ascot as 'Santa's grottos are able to open in all tiers'.

Meanwhile people in Bristol were chuffed they were being moved from Tier Three to Tier Two.

MPs and councillors blasted the Health Secretary's 'bizarre' and 'ridiculous' clampdown on most areas, while hospitality chiefs warned Tier 3 restrictions will plunge businesses already on the brink into 'despair and heartbreak'.

Large parts of the east and south of England will go into Tier 3, including Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Surrey with the exception of Waverley, Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex, and Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire.

It means around 38 million people, or 68 per cent of the population, will now be subject to the top bracket – including the Queen at Windsor Castle. 

A high-end steak restaurant in Berkshire is having to cancel all 80 bookings from now over Christmas until January 1 at an estimated cost of £12,000.

'It's pretty scary': Peterborough restaurateur fears he will shut doors for good and fears toll closure will take on his family 

Paul Sharma opened 2020 World Buffet in Peterborough just two days before the first lockdown in March and since then has endured a stop-start nine months.

Now, after being placed into Tier 3 today, he fears he'll have to shut his doors for good, as the financial impact begins to take its toll on his young family.

He told MailOnline: 'These are really tough times, and it's pretty scary to be honest.

Paul Sharma opened 2020 World Buffet in Peterborough just two days before the first lockdown in March and since then has endured a stop-start nine months

'We're a buffet restaurant so it's difficult to offer a takeaway service, or if we did it would cost too much.

'It's a big place, we can get nearly 500 people inside, and over the Christmas period we had about 100 bookings a day lined up which we'll now have to cancel.

'The fixed costs and staff salaries cost about £25,000 a week and apart from during Eat Out to Help Out, which we really benefitted from, we've only made £5,000 or £6,000 a week.

'We have 27 full-time and part-time staff at the moment and luckily the furlough scheme is being extended but if we want to stay open I've still got to pay the running costs and the debt is starting to mount.

'For me personally, it's a bit scary because I've got two kids, aged eight and 11, and the family relies on me because we have no other source of income.

'We've had just £3,000 in government help since the start of the pandemic, but we need a lot more than that if we're going to survive.'

The Herd restaurant in Pangbourne, which is part of the Elephant hotel, opened on December 3 in line with Tier 2 restrictions after it closed its doors during the second national shutdown – at a cost of thousands of pounds in anti-Covid kit.

It now has to close its doors indefinitely, destroy festive family plans by cancelling restaurant and hotel reservations, kick guests out of the hotel from Friday, and put all its 25 restaurant staff back on furlough.

General manager Chris Lowe told MailOnline the move to Tier 3 is costing the restaurant an estimated £12,000 and the hotel around £5,000.

He called locking down 'a nightmare', adding: 'I know that the Government are probably trying to do the right thing, but closing everything again during the Christmas holiday is going to be disastrous.

'We've had to basically ruin Christmas plans for families travelling into the area to visit their friends and families. Many of them now have nowhere else to stay, so their holidays are all up in the air because of this.

'Locking down is a nightmare, local businesses – restaurants, pubs, hairdressers, corner shops – they're all losing money, and lots of it.' 

Pub landlord David Cairns said he's had to cancel bookings to the Tap in Portsmouth on Christmas Day, calling it 'a bit s***'. Speaking to MailOnline, he fumed: 'If you have to save lives you have to save lives, but I'm gutted. 

'It's going to have a massive effect on my business. The week from Christmas to New Year is a crucial period for us and brings a lot of revenue.' 

Steve Banfield, who runs The Brown Bear pub in Hertfordshire, said he is 'resigned' to the sudden move to Tier 3, telling MailOnline: 'It's hard not to think sometimes that they're trying to decimate the pub industry.

'I really feel frustrated for the locals who like to come down to the pub at the end of the week, have a pint and chew the fat with their friends.

'We've had a few cases down here, and it's probably because when people have alcohol they don't follow social distancing. But what fun's a pub if you can't relax with your mates and suspend reality for a moment?' 

An incensed pub landlord in Peterborough said that Tier 3 coronavirus restrictions 'effectively cease all trade' as he believes that people will not order takeaway pints from his venue over the Christmas holiday. 

Andrew Ruddy of the Ruddy Duck Peakirk said that constantly reopening and closing this year is a 'huge waste of money', and admitted that his biggest worry was rent.

'I think hospitality is being blamed for the spread despite the fact there's no evidence that it spreads in pubs,' he told MailOnline. 

'In a way, going into Tier 3 is a relief for us because trying to operate in Tier 2 was just not viable. We don't benefit from grants in the same way, and we chalked out thousands of pounds to make the place safe.

'It's all been a huge waste of money, and now we have literally no income coming in – we're having to use grants to cover our bills and our rent.'  

Pub landlady Lili Collier at the Broad Street Tavern in Wokingham said that hospitality venues across England are 'being punished for being open'

The Herd restaurant in Pangbourne is having to cancel all 80 bookings from now over Christmas until January 1 at an estimated cost of £12,000

The Kings Theatre in Portsmouth announced that it was postponing all performances of its Dick Whittington pantomime from Friday into the New Year. Above, cast members perform Jack and the Beanstalk at York Theatre Royal on December 2 in York

David Cairns, 35, landlord of The Tap in Portsmouth, told MailOnline: 'I've got a lot of people booked for Christmas Day and now I've got to tell them they can't come - and that's a bit s***'

Large parts of southern England will go into Tier 3, including Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Surrey with the exception of Waverley, Hastings and Rother on the Kent border of East Sussex, and Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant in Hampshire

Pub landlady Lili Collier at the Broad Street Tavern in Wokingham said that hospitality venues across England are 'being punished for being open'.  

She told MailOnline the pub, which reopened on July 30 to ensure it was fully Covid-compliant and closed for the second national shutdown, paid close to £10,000 for an outdoor marquee – only to be forced to close a third time. 

The landlady of seven years said: 'It would be nice if we had a bit of notice. We spend all this money on food and drinks and we have to throw it away, it's such a waste - especially as there are people going down to their food banks just to find something for that night. 

'We want to know what the right thing is to do here. We haven't ever complained, we have followed all the rules, all the Government's requirements, and now we are being punished for being open. We don't understand if the Christmas bubbles apply anymore, it's all a mess.' 

Simon Dennis, who works at a family-owned restaurant in Luton, revealed that his manager rang him in floods of tears with frustration at the move to Tier 3.

'Just had my restaurant manager on the phone in tears. Open, close, open, close. Make your minds up,' he tweeted. 

'No business can operate like this. And £2,000 for being closed in November! Didn't even cover half my rent. Going to be nothing left for 2021. Do more'.

A mother in Peterborough who models for Buzz Talent agency said she is 'absolutely devastated' by the move. 'Peterborough is moving into Tier 3 meaning I have to close my business again and I've had no financial support at all,' she tweeted. 

'We only opened in September and we've spent most of the time closed'.  

The owner of a mobile bar called Webster's Bar Box in the south east of England said she is 'gutted, heartbroken and had enough now'.

'Tier 3 means my little pub business has to close again tomorrow,' she tweeted, adding: 'I'm in tears, completely drained.'   

Tearful and devastated small business owners are up in arms over the extension of Matt Hancock's draconian Tier 3 curbs across vast swathes of southern England

The Kings Theatre in Portsmouth announced that it was postponing all performances of its Dick Whittington pantomime from Friday into the New Year.

'Sadly, Friday 18 December at 7pm will be our final performance until Portsmouth comes back out of Tier 3,' a statement said.

'We're so proud of what we have achieved staging our first Pompey Panto and are devastated that the show must be closed over Christmas while we're in Tier 3.' 

The luxury four-star Gibbon Bridge Hotel in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, announced that it would have to remain closed as the region is not being brought out of the Tier 3 restrictions.

It added that it is 'disappointed' that it is not be able to 'honour' Christmas reservations, tweeting: 'Our region is remaining in Tier 3. 

'I've got to get rid of 400 potatoes!': Southsea landlady has to bin stock as area is plunged into Tier 3

Ally Vernon, who has been landlord of the award-winning Lawrence Arms in Southsea for 10 years, expected to be fully booked for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, serving a total 60 customers at a time.

But since the region was ratcheted up to Tier 3, she is now looking to offload 400 potatoes that will otherwise go to waste.

She told MailOnline: 'We did plan stuff inside the restrictions to give people that little bit of Christmas, especially for lonely people who may not have someone to spend it with.'

Luckily the forced cancellations will not leave Ms Vernon incredibly out of pocket as she has not bulk bought large amounts of stock.

'Businesses since the last lockdown don't hold as much stock,' she said, adding that people are 'more aware' that the situation could suddenly change as it has today.

'But I do have an abundance of potatoes and cheese, and will be making a call to the local food bank as I don't think the customers over the next two days will be able to manage all that.'

At the Lawrence Arms she employs a total six staff, but only two have returned to work while the rest remain on furlough.

'The staff have been really keen to continue working,' she said. 'The pub is a very sociable place and a good place to work.'

However the constant changes to the rules have forced her to completely overhaul the pub this past year.

She told MailOnline: 'I've found myself changing the business over a cup of tea in my pyjamas. In March we were a wet-led pub that showed Sky Sports to Pompey fans on a Saturday to serving evening meals.'

Since Portsmouth's Tier 3 fate was announced for Saturday earlier today, she said: 'My phone hasn't stopped ringing since midday. People want their last pint of 2020.'

'While this is entirely out of our hands we can't tell you how disappointed and sorry we are not to be able to honour your Christmas reservations or be part of making the festive season a bit more special for you. Take care and see you soon.'

Polly Little, a manager at the Red Lion in Luton town centre, said this evening: 'A lot of people aren't happy as you'd expect. We are going to lose a lot of Christmas trade.

'We were due to do 43 covers here on Christmas Day for people who wanted come out and enjoy their Christmas Dinner here. Now we have got to cancel the day and get all the refunds back to them.

'It's so disappointing because we are doing all the right things like spacing people apart and making sure people wear face masks and yet you go into the Mall and the shops and it's like a free for all.

'I feel so sorry for our regulars too. They can't just come in for a pint anymore. They've had to order a meal. But now they can't come in at all and that means the social side has been taken from them.'

Cherrie Bennett landlady at The Castle pub the town centre said: 'The week running up to Christmas would have been a busy week for us which is lost now. But we have missed out since November.

'It's rubbish really they way the hospitality sector had been closed-what about the shops.' She said staff at the pub now face an uncertain future.

'This is a night time pub so the curfew has hit us anyway, but I feel sorry for the young people that come here in the evenings. These are the university students and we provide a way for them to socialise instead of being stuck in rooms.'

She said working with MIND her pub is helping students with mental health issues by listening to them and giving them the chance to talk and socialise.

'Youngsters need the release the pubs provide of having somewhere to socialise, to talk,' she said.

Bilal Ahmad is the manager and a director of the popular The Italian Gelato and Dessert Co, an ice cream parlour in the centre of town.

After tomorrow he will be closing his business to the public. 'We are going to lose a lot of money. People like to go shopping as a family and then come here afterwards and enjoy the ice cream.

'Now that's all been stopped and in the run up to Christmas. Christmas is a busy time here, but now it's not going to be. We can do a delivery service but it's not ideal because ice cream melts and packaging ends up soggy. We can do online orders but we get charged 30 per cent by the online companies.

'It's so disappointing because we have followed the social distancing rules.'

Collette Bird, 23, who works for McDonalds and her friend, care worker Shannon Smith, 23, said the closure of the hospitality sector meaning pubs and clubs will close, will have an affect on the town.

Collette said: 'You just wish things could go back to normal, but I don't think they ever will. I think what is happening is all about controlling the people, making them wear face masks, stand in queues, stand in lines. It will never go back to normal.

Muhammad Noor who runs Juliet's Hair and Cosmetics in the town centre said he will have to close his business on Friday evening and he will be laying staff off as a result.

Bilal Ahmad is the manager and a director of the popular The Italian Gelato and Dessert Co, an ice cream parlour in the centre of town

Cherrie Bennett landlady at The Castle pub the town centre said: 'The week running up to Christmas would have been a busy week for us which is lost now. But we have missed out since November

Bethan Fraser said: 'It's not the closing down of the hospitality business that affect ps me and my family because we don't go out to the pubs. It's not being able to see friends and families that is the hard part. This time of year it's especially hard and people's mental health can suffer'

Collette Bird, 23, who works for McDonalds and her friend, care worker Shannon Smith, 23, said the closure of the hospitality sector meaning pubs and clubs will close, will have an affect on the town

He said he had followed all the advice about social distancing and keeping staff and customers safe, given to him by the council who have visited his shop.

'I will have to close and yet stores like Wilkos around the corner can stay open.'

Bethan Fraser said: 'It's not the closing down of the hospitality business that affect ps me and my family because we don't go out to the pubs. It's not being able to see friends and families that is the hard part. This time of year it's especially hard and people's mental health can suffer.'

Teo Jorgji, manager of the Miller & Carter restaurant in Reading, claimed being forced to close with less than 48 hours notice would have catastrophic financial implications.

The 46-year-old said: 'We would have liked a bit more notice because it is not just being closed down, it's the amount of stock that we are putting in the bin. I have a delivery of £8,000 tomorrow that will all have to go in the bin. The timing is very disappointing.

'The last time we closed was just before Mother's Day and the loss we have had since then - and only involving stock - equates to more than £15,000. Just think about all the gallons of beer we had to put through the drains.

'As a steak house, it is a very expensive product that we sell. We are going to donate as much as we can to food banks but as a business it's not ideal. This is our busiest period of the year and we are having to shut.'

The manager claimed that the hospitality industry was one of the most regulated but it was the staff that would take the greatest hit this festive period.

'The Government says that our team will be going to get 80 per cent of their wages but if you take their expected tips out, they are on minimum wage and they are actuslly down 40 per cent from last year. It is very stressful and a couple of team members have expressed anxiety about having to pay their bills.

'At the moment we are running at half capacity. We have track and trace - which you don't have at the supermarket - we sanitise and have everything in place. The sanitiser we use is so strong that the polish is coming off the tables.

'We have the customers' telephone numbers; what time they were seated; where they were sitting; what they ate; what time they ate; which team members served them and what others tables were around them.

'We have contactless, we even have Covid questionnaires for our team and you just feel like we do so many things already to comply - and then they can close you down with no notice.'

Opposing this was 19-year-old waiter at Honest Burger, Rob Kipping who was not fussed by the announcement.

How many people will be in each tier when new allocations take effect? 

Tier 1 - 906,374 

Tier 2 - 17,488,082

Tier 3 - 37,892,505 

The student said: 'I love this job, but Tier 3 is not for long so hopefully we can go back - it means we get time off and free money. I was on furlough for both lockdowns.

'I am a student so because I don't live here permanently, it means I don't have to travel to work and it's less hassle. I'd happily work but happily not, either way I get paid.'

However, the manager of an independent cafe - which has been running for the last 35 years - explained that Tier 3 could spell the end for the business.

Munchies manager Shyam Lama said: 'We can't do takeaways and deliveries during Tier 3, we are sit-in based. Frankly we have to shut down the place, we cannot do anything.

'There are coffee shops everywhere so there would be no point in us opening for takeaway coffee. We are a breakfast place and people are not going to enjoy a takeaway breakfast. They want to come in, sit down and enjoy it that way.

'We just had a large delivery for the Christmas period, we were expecting to be very busy and we had been. But now all the milk and fresh food will have to be binned because we will be closed for at least two weeks.

'We are independent and we are trying to survive. We came through the first lockdown but we will not be able to pay the rent without business and the Government is not helping us. We are self-made, we are not a chain and it is going to be extremely difficult,' the 33-year-old added.

But Bristolians tonight welcomed news they were at last escaping the toughest Covid-restrictions and being moved into Tier Two.

John and Imelda Ray were wrapped up warm this evening as they headed into the city centre.

Warehouse worker John, 56, said: 'I am pleased we are moving into tier two as local businesses have been hit hard and for young people especially it's been socially restrictive.

'But for me personally, I haven't had much of an issue with being in tier three, I've accepted that we've had to curb our behaviour for a relatively short amount of time to combat a nasty virus.

'To be honest I wouldn't say that my life will change too much come Saturday. We don't go out much and do all our shopping on the internet.

Imelda, 53, added: 'We would've loved to have a bit more freedom but we've had to abide by the laws for the greater good.

'Will we be in rush to go to a restaurant or to the shops next week? No, I don't think we will. Such is the nature of Christmas shopping now, it's all done online anyway.'

Students Annabel Hendy and Ella Buckingham, both 19, were heading back home after shopping in Bristol. Annabel said: 'Bristol has a lot of great bars and restaurants and hopefully it'll be a great festive atmosphere in town'

Friends Ben Eastwood, 21 and James Holland, 22, were back in Bristol for Christmas. Ben is a maths student at the University of Manchester while James is also studying maths but at the University of London

John and Imelda Ray were wrapped up warm this evening as they headed into the city centre. Mother-of-three Pamela Bennett , 39, an HR assistant from the Brislington area of the city said: 'I think it's positive news but I fear that we are all going to abandon social distancing as a result of the bars and restaurants re-opening and we'll be plunged back into another lockdown in the New Year'

Mother-of-three Pamela Bennett, 39, an HR assistant from the Brislington area of the city said: 'I think it's positive news but I fear that we are all going to abandon social distancing as a result of the bars and restaurants re-opening and we'll be plunged back into another lockdown in the New Year.

'Having said that, it will be nice to be able to eat somewhere again in town. I've come into the Cabot Circus shopping centre this evening with my youngest daughter and there is not many places to go, even for takeaway. We ended up sitting on a bench eating sushi.

'My brother is Stephen Entwistle, founder of the Turtle Bay restaurant chain. I'm happy for him that the restaurant in Bristol will be back open again when so many are still closed in other parts of the country.'

Friends Ben Eastwood, 21 and James Holland, 22, were back in Bristol for Christmas.

Ben is a maths student at the University of Manchester while James is also studying maths but at the University of London.

Ben, who lives in Redland, Bristol said: 'I've been locked down for weeks up in a city which has the toughest restrictions so this news today is very welcome.

'I'm looking forward to going back into a pub and ordering a pint - albeit with a Scotch egg!

'It's been quite tough not being able to go out for so long. It'll be good to catch-up with friends again.'

James, who lives in Sneyd Park in Bristol, added: 'The timing is good, changing to tier two just in time for the festive party season.

'I've been in London which has gone into tier three this week and so now restrictions in Bristol are easing slightly, I'm going to enjoy strolling into a pub for Christmas. It's something that I didn't think I was going to be able to do this year.'

Students Annabel Hendy and Ella Buckingham, both 19, were heading back home after shopping in Bristol.

Annabel said: 'Bristol has a lot of great bars and restaurants and hopefully it'll be a great festive atmosphere in town.

'The only problem is - we live in South Gloucestershire, which is still going to be in tier three. We just miss out.'

Ella joked: 'It's a bit annoying really, we have a Bristol postcode and so were put in tier three because infections in the city were so high. Now they are coming out but we are still in!'

Despite non-essential shops being allowed to open under Tier 3 guidelines, a supervisor at Thornton's chocolates explained that the strict guidance could impact on footfall on the high street, majorly affecting their business.

AJ Ansell said: 'We only heard about Tier 3 today and it looks like we are staying open but my first worry was footfall. I think people might be worried to come in and won't want to risk coming out into town.

'Hopefully we can power through but I think a lot of the high street will suffer with a lack of footfall, it's just something we are going to have to take as it comes. We only opened at the start of December,' the 27-year-old added.

Similarly, team leader of the shoe brand Clark's expressed her concern that footfall would drastically fall but that the company was prepared.

Cath Hegarty said: 'Our customer base is mostly older and children for the fitting service we provide, we have found people are still searching for normality. However, we do expect sales to fall again during the Tier 3 restrictions.'

UKHospitality warned that placing more areas into Tier 3 will 'ruin Christmas for those businesses entering and continued despair and heartbreak for those hard-pressed businesses that had hoped they might move into Tier 2'.

Its chief executive Kate Nicholls told MailOnline 'what was already looking like a bleak Christmas is now looking like a total write-off'. 

Tearful and devastated small business owners are up in arms over the extension of Matt Hancock's draconian Tier 3 curbs across vast swathes of southern England

'Businesses will have bought stock which will now go to waste and more people will lose work at a stressful time,' she claimed.

'Hotels are now facing a deluge of short-notice cancellations because of the tightening of restrictions. What was already looking like a bleak Christmas is now looking like a total write-off.

'This will be a bitter blow for businesses that would have been hoping to make the best of a difficult Christmas period. 

'The increased restrictions, effectively a total shutdown for most, will make it even more difficult for businesses to salvage what little they can from what should be a busy period.

What criteria do the government use to allocate tiers? 

'More financial support most be forthcoming if we are to have any hope that these businesses will survive. They can trade their way out of danger next year only if they are still around to do so.' 

The Campaign for Pubs warned of 'a widespread fear and anger shared by publicans who now find themselves in uncharted territory'.

Its spokesman Alastair Kerr told MailOnline that 'for the many publicans who were in Tier 2, who now find themselves in Tier 3, it is devastating news – especially a week before Christmas, whch should be a busy trading time'.

'It is clear that the hospitality sector cannot keep on opening up only to be told to close down again with none or very little economic support from the Government,' he added. 

The British Beer & Pub Association said that 'permanent closures, lost livelihoods and the destruction of valued community locals is sadly inevitable' with the move to Tier 3. 

Chief executive Emma McClarkin said: 'The update on tier restrictions announced today is not the shift in the right direction that our sector desperately needed and hoped for. 

'More regions being placed under Tier 3 restrictions means more closed businesses, leaving the future of Britain's pubs truly hanging by a thread this Christmas.

'It is clear that it is going to be longer than we thought until our pubs can open properly and be viable businesses again.  

'The UK Government can and should follow the lead of Wales, which is providing pubs facing similar restrictions and closure with four times more financial support than those in England. Some pubs in Wales will receive even more than that.

'The Prime Minister and Chancellor have no excuses. They must now secure pubs and jobs by giving locals in England the same support as those in Wales. Without such support, a wave of pub closures is guaranteed at a time when they should be leading the economic recovery.'

Covid-19 deaths have also risen 14 per cent week-on-week, with 612 new victims reported today compared to 533 a week ago. It is the second day in a row that daily infections rose by more than 50 per cent after 18,450 positive tests were announced on Tuesday

Tory MP for Stevenage Stephen McPartland said that it is 'ridiculous that we are being dragged into Tier 3'.

Furlough scheme is extended in ominous sign

Rishi Sunak today dramatically extended the furlough scheme for another month saying businesses need 'certainty'.

The Chancellor said the huge coronavirus bailout will now continue until the end of April, while firms will be able to access loans until the end of March.

He also confirmed that the budget will take place on March 3 setting out the 'next phase' of the recovery plan.

The move is an ominous sign that restrictions could drag on even longer than had been feared.  

Mr Sunak said: 'Our package of support for businesses and workers continues to be one of the most generous and effective in the world – helping our economy to recover and protecting livelihoods across the country.

'We know the premium businesses place on certainty, so it is right that we enable them to plan ahead regardless of the path the virus takes, which is why we're providing certainty and clarity by extending this support, as well as implementing our Plan for Jobs.' 

He tweeted that the move is 'totally unacceptable' and 'clearly shows I was right to vote against a second lockdown and tier system'.  

'Government accepted on Monday that tiers should be imposed on a district basis instead of this unbalanced county-wide approach,' he added.

Gerald Vernon-Jackson, the Liberal Democrat leader of Portsmouth City Council, said the decision to put the Hampshire city into Tier 3 was 'bizarre' when other authorities that required care provided by the city's Queen Alexandra Hospital had not been moved up.

He said other local authorities such as Fareham and Winchester City were within a mile-and-a-half of the hospital.

'It's not unexpected but I am slightly surprised as we have been told the problem is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which doesn't just serve Portsmouth, just a third of its intake is from Portsmouth and two-thirds from others around including areas which are within a mile,' he said.

'The Government's ability to get things right seems to be not great but the Government has made a number of bizarre decisions, so it's no surprise they have made another one.'

The leader of Surrey County Council has said residents and businesses will find most of the county moving into Tier 3 'very disappointing news' at the end of an 'exceptionally difficult year'. The area of Waverley will remain in Tier 2.

Tim Oliver said: 'We need to take swift action to save lives and stop our crucial NHS services from being put under even more pressure.

'We all need to be extremely vigilant, including residents in Waverley, as the situation can change quickly and we want to prevent them going into Tier 3 in the new year.'

He urged people to follow the bubbles guidance over Christmas and added: 'There is hope on the horizon with the rollout of the vaccine across the county, starting with the over-80s.

'But it will take time and we cannot let our guard down. The coming weeks will be a challenge to us all, but it is crucial that we reduce the spread of this virus and get through the winter as safely as possible.'

Cllr Peter Marland of Milton Keynes Council claimed the local authority had no prior notification of moving into Tier 3.

'We were missed off the statement in Parliament. Utter shambles,' he tweeted. 'For clarity on Covid-19 matters we are in NHS England East and grouped with Bedfordshire (we think)'.

Will you have to close your business when you move from Tier 2 to Tier 3? Tell us about your experience by emailing – jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk