A PUB owner has branded Wetherspoons irresponsible for considering opening its pubs.

In a statement, the owner of the Railway Hotel, James Vessey-Miller, has criticised the pub chain and other businesses in Southend for “immorally considering to open their businesses”.

Matt Dent, a Labour councillor for Kursaal ward, issued some stern advice of his own, and called those demanding pubs to be open while hundreds are losing their lives “frankly offensive”.

Mr Vessey-Miller said: “Yes, we’re concerned at the moment, and yes our brewery is still making us pay rent. But, unlike some other businesses, we’re not campaigning for a potentially disastrous premature end to lockdown measures.

“Businesses like Wetherspoons should seriously re-evaluate if they think it’s responsible to subject their staff to the public during a pandemic.

“Reopening large chain pubs whilst good law-abiding independent pubs remain closed will only add to the immense pressure our family-run pubs are under.

“It is not responsible for these businesses in Southend to be encouraging people to the seafront just for them to trade. Getting some chips for a stroll along the promenade is not necessary. Encouraging that behaviour is frankly immoral.

“We’re doing all we can to weather this, and we’ll fight tooth and nail to ensure we’re still here whenever it is that it is safe for us all to be allowed back out again. Shame on those businesses prioritising profit before the public and their employees health.”

Councillor Dent added: “We’re all missing the pub, but I support James’ view on this. This is an exemplary example of what businesses should be doing.

“If they all reopen, we will see a lot more people out. This risks a second wave of infections. We need to protect and saves.

“It’s frankly offensive to be demanding a drink at the pub at the moment.”

A spokesman from Wetherspoons added: “Like all companies we are trying to make a plan for the future and are guessing that they may be allowed to reopen in late June, around three months after they closed. However, that is just an estimate and may prove to be entirely incorrect.”

“Wetherspoon, like all pub companies, closed its doors when ordered to do so by the government – and will only reopen when it is permitted to do so.”