Milton Keynes late night venue vows to party on - despite Covid restrictions

The owners of Bistro Live at CMK have refused to cancel its entertainment and party nights in the run-up to Christmas.

But, instead of the usual late night finishes, the music and dining will begin at 6.30pm and end at 10pm.

Director Mark Henderson has criticised the government for its lack and support and clarity over clubs and restaurants.

He said: “Since March, we’ve had to contend with constantly changing rules and regulations: full lockdown for four months; only two households, no live entertainment and no dancing until the middle of September, the ‘rule of six’ just recently, and now, to top it all, a 10pm curfew."

Mark added: "Nearly all late-night venues have had zero income since March, and whilst the furlough scheme helped us, we are now having to use our reserves to pay our people and keep the business afloat.

"Quite how the new Job Support Scheme with companies paying a member of staff 55 per cent of their salary (with the government topping it up to 77 per cent) for doing 33 per cent of their normal hours is going to help businesses recover is quite beyond me!”

Despite all of this, Mark said Bistro Live, which is popular for birthday and hen parties, is still determined to open on November 6 for the Christmas season and give their customers "a great night out".

He said: "It may be different to a usual Bistro Live out, but it will give us the opportunity to showcase something a little different.

"For evenings we will be opening at 6.30pm and running through until 10.00pm, with an amazing array of solo

artistes and duos booked for the festive period. Instead of the usual ‘party-party’, think up-tempo acoustic, with

three great live sets throughout the evening.

Food will be served as normal but for tables of six, bubbles of staff and with half the venue's usual capacity;

Mark said: "We’ve also introduced (new for 2020) our new lunchtime ‘Live @ Lunch’ offer. This will not be your ordinary Christmas lunch – this will be a Christmas lunch Bistro Live style with lots of great entertainment from our live artistes, brilliant service and a few new ideas.

"Starting at 12.30pm through until 3.30pm, this will be a tremendous, new alternative to the usual ‘raucous’

Christmas party, and still lots of fun."

Fellow Bistro Live Director, Fred Harlow said: We’ve been working really hard over the last few weeks to come up

with some brand-new ideas, to ensure that we can operate in safe, but fun, social yet distanced way, and to get

the venue ready for re-opening.”

“The feedback we’ve had so far from our customers has been very supportive, so, as long as the Government don’t change the goalposts again, we’re looking forward to re- opening the business and doing what we do best – great food, great entertainment and a brilliant night out.”