PUB chain Marston's - which has a venue in Wirral - is cutting more than 2,000 jobs as coronavirus restrictions hammer trade.

The company - which owns the Green Lodge in Hoylake - said the move will affect around 2,150 of its pub workers currently on furlough support.

A further cost-cutting plan will be announced by the end of the year.

Marston's blame recent nationwide measures to tackle the surge in coronavirus cases, which has seen curfews placed on hospitality venues and closures of sites not serving food in high-risk areas such as Liverpool.

The UK Government imposed a 10pm curfew on pubs and hospitality venues across England from September 24, but since then Scotland has imposed a raft of further restrictions including closures in some areas and a 6pm curfew elsewhere.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also

On Monday announced the new three-tier lockdown system, which has seen Liverpool subject to measures including the closure of bars, pubs which do not serve meals, gyms, betting shops and casinos.

Marston’s said it has 21 sites in Scotland, of which eight are currently closed, and 18 in the Tier 3 Liverpool City Region - of which Wirral is part - although the majority of these serve food and are allowed to remain open.

Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s, said: “The additional restrictions which have been applied across the UK most recently present significant challenges to us and will make business more difficult for a period of time.

“I very much regret that the consequence of this is that the jobs of around 2,150 of our colleagues will be impacted, but it is an inevitable consequence of the limitations placed upon our business.

“We will be looking at our cost base further in the coming weeks.”

Marston’s claimed the new rules “undermine consumer confidence and create uncertainty”.

It said: “The introduction of these further restrictions and guidance affecting pubs is hugely disappointing in view of a lack of clear evidence tying pubs to the recent increase in infection levels, and our own data which suggests that pubs are effective in minimising risks.”