From Mad Friday to Sad Friday

"WE'VE had our Christmas now," says Lisa Booth, landlady at The Wheatsheaf pub in the Northern Quarter.

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On what many would expect to be the busiest time of the year for the hospitality industry, she is preparing to wind down for the remainder of the festive period. In years gone by, Mad Friday the last Friday before Christmas would see the pub packed out with revellers enjoying a big blowout. But not anymore.

"We had a few in [on Friday] but it was nothing like what it normally is," said Ms Booth. "It was like that last year. The last couple of Fridays have been good but the one that was supposed to be Mad Friday wasn't mad." The Wheatsheaf was one of many venues across Manchester city centre that were quieter than on Friday evening.

When the Manchester Evening News ventured into town, we were met with deserted streets and empty bars.

It was a far cry from the revelry often associated with the Friday closest to the big day, known in some quarters as Black Eye Friday. It is a situation that has become depressingly familiar for some Manchester pub and bar owners at this time of year.

While The Wheatsheaf has done 'decent' trade throughout December, Ms Booth said takings are down on the whole. And for the first time in more than 30 years, the pub will not be hosting any New Year's Eve celebrations.

"It's just not worth it," said Ms Booth. "A lot of people go away for Christmas.

"Town will be dead next week. I've been here seven years and as soon as Christmas Eve arrives the streets are dead. Loads of bars round here are shutting on Christmas Eve." While Lockdown for some might feel like a distant memory, its aftereffects are still being felt in the hospitality industry, Ms Booth said.. People still struggle to make ends meet, and have become more used to staying in.

"Town is not like it was years ago.

It's a crying shame. It was a lot busier before Covid but people's drinking habits have changed. A lot more people are coming out in the daytime than night-time.