Hawksmoor calls for tolerance amid pressure to close for Queen’s funeral

Steakhouse restaurant group Hawksmoor has called for “tolerance to how others feel or behave” and “however they grieve” amid pressure to close for the Queen’s funeral on Monday (19 September).

The group confirmed its sites will open, except its Guildhall restaurant, which always shuts for bank holidays. Staff who wish to take the day off will be able to do so.

Posting on Twitter, Hawksmoor said: “If you want to shut, so you/your staff/customers can grieve or take part in an important national moment, then you should. Just try not to make it sound like you are ‘showing respect for the Queen’ and implying that those doing differently are not.

“If you want to open, and feel staff need to work and people need to eat or drink, then you should. Just try not to make it sound like you are doing so in order for your customers to ‘pay their respects to the Queen’ and implying that those doing differently are not.

“Grief, even national grief, is personal. There are few ‘right’ ways of grieving, and few established ‘correct’ ways of being respectful. The government have specifically issued guidance saying it’s your choice.

“Respect for the Queen (to me) suggests tolerance to how others feel or behave, however they grieve (even ‘whether’ they grieve). No one should feel that their quiet, respectful decisions are being thrown out for public judgement on social media. There is no ‘right’ answer.”

It was confirmed over the weekend that the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II will be a bank holiday, with thousands expected to line the streets of the capital.

Government guidance has stated that there is "no obligation on organisations to suspend business during the national mourning period", however "some businesses may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the state funeral".

There is also no obligation to grant employees a day off, but the government has encouraged employers to respond sensitively in light of a "unique national moment".

Several pub groups have said their venues will remain open to allow people to congregate and "share memories and pay their respects", with the funeral shown on screens where possible.

Following her death, those that had served the country's longest-reigning monarch shared their recollections and tributes with The Caterer.