These pubs, restaurants and cafés have all closed in Derbyshire since the first lockdown began

While government support measures such as the furlough scheme and business grants have kept some pubs, restaurants, cafés and other venues afloat, a few have either closed permanently or still not reopened since the Covid-19 outbreak worsened in March last year.

Here are seven sites that have been affected by the crisis.

The Shoulder of Mutton

Award-winning Derbyshire country pub The Shoulder of Mutton, at Hallfieldgate near Alfreton, is to be turned into a private home and will not reopen. In November the owners applied for planning permission to convert the pub into a residential property so they could continue to live there. "The public house has been closed since the commencement of the lockdown in March 2020 and there is considered to be very little chance of it being able to reopen for the foreseeable future in a manner that satisfies requirements in respect of social distancing,” documents said. “The owners do not consider that the public house, like many others at the present time, has a viable future.”

Pizza Express

The branch of Pizza Express in Glossop was among a long list of the chain’s restaurants that was closed permanently in September. “The impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic has meant that we’ve had to make some incredibly tough decisions recently to safeguard PizzaExpress for the long term,” bosses said.

Chiquito

This Mexican-themed restaurant at Alma Leisure Park in Chesterfield closed for good after its owners, the Restaurant Group, put the chain into administration in March. “The decisions have been incredibly difficult and we recognise the significant impact on all our colleagues that are affected,” the group said. “We thank them for their hard work and commitment during these very testing times.”

The Needlemakers Arms

The Needlemakers Arms, on Kensington Street in Ilkeston, closed in June when the licensees handed in their notice to Star Pubs & Bars, part of Heineken. A statement on Facebook said a lack of income made rent payments unaffordable.

Design Museum Café

The café at the David Mellor Design Museum in Hathersage – where visitors could enjoy hot drinks, cake and light meals surrounded by examples of Mellor’s work – shut when the first national lockdown began in March 2020 and remains ‘closed until further notice’.

Erewash Hotel

This family-run pub in Ilkeston didn’t reopen after lockdown in March, and the decision was made to call time in August. “We’re not selling up, we shall still be here, just not open,” the owners explained. “As a family we’ve had a great many years here, but we all feel that the time is right for it to end.”

Willersley Castle Hotel

Grade II-listed Willersley Castle near Matlock was permanently closed during the first national lockdown in March last year and later put up for sale. Guests could dine in the restaurant for breakfast and dinner. The hotel group that ran the historic veue, Methodist Guild Holidays, has appointed administrators. The owner said it had held ‘an essential review of the business during tough trading conditions’ before making the decision that the hotel would not reopen and was to be sold.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.