Godalming publicans have reacted with concern to today's Government announcement that pubs, bars and restaurants will have to close at 10pm from this Thursday onwards.

The changes will also see table service introduced and face masks mandatory at hospitality establishments across England under rules that could be in place for up to six months.

"That's the end of the welcoming smile," said Clive Nunn, manager of The White Hart in Bourne Road, Farncombe, of the rule that staff must wear masks.

"I think it's a pain in the proverbial.

"We are going to have to take on some extra staff. It's just putting our costs up, and it's no benefit to us at all."

The White Hart has been closing at 10pm on weekdays, but Mr Nunn said the earlier closing time at weekends would hit his trade.

"If we're having to close at 10, then last orders will be at 9.30," he said. "People are going to have to come out a bit earlier."

And he said he would have to meet the cost of extra PPE for staff when the masks rule comes into effect on Thursday.

"There can't be a friendly smile when people walk in," he added. "Although we have got clear visors, so we will probably wear those."

Simon West, manager of the Three Lions in Meadrow, said he would have to bring in extra staff to comply with the new rules on table service.

He said it was difficult to forecast how the new rules would affect trade.

"We don't know yet what effect it will have," he told Nub News.

"People might come out earlier than they are used to: nobody knows until the rules are in place.

"It's going to affect us by having to bring more staff in for table service, which will affect our costs."

He said trade had been good since The Three Lions reopened in July, with 90 to 95% of trade returning.

"And that's without the music," he said. "We have a lot of loyal locals and we have had new people coming in.

"We will just see what happens on Thursday."

Andy Mounsey, who runs The Star in Church Street with wife Emma, said the rule change wouldn't affect his business hugely as he already offers only table service.

The pub closes at 10.30 during the week, he said, so bringing closing time forward that extra half hour wouldn't have a great effect.

However, he said, "We're going to lose two hours at the weekend."

The pub shuts early for deep-cleaning to be carried out, and has been offering table service only since it reopened on July 6th, so "It's not really a change for us."

"We are just waiting to hear whether it's last orders at 10 to 10, or whether it's just lock the doors at 10 to 10.

"If we have to have last orders at 9.30 we will be losing seven hours through the week, so that would have more of an effect.

"I think it's just a bit unfair that pubs and restaurants are getting blamed for the growth in Coronavirus: we have been very strict on it. We have perspex screens: we have really worked very, very, very hard at making our pub Covid-free."

He says he has more staff working to ensure it stays that way.

"We have screens up and more staff on, because of the extra sanitising checks and table service, so we have taken a hit, and unfairly we seem to be getting bashed for it."

He is pessimistic about the future too: "I think this is just the start of it," he said. "I think we could be shut within four weeks, for maybe a month.

"Me and my wife have just written off 2020. We can't wait for it to come to an end."