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The Government said venues must close earlier from tomorrow in a bid to tackle rising infections. But Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night-Time Industries Association, said the closures were a “devastating blow” to the already battered sector.

He said: “This curfew will lead to the demise of many of our most beloved cultural and entertainment venues.

“Businesses in the night-time economy are both shocked and disappointed by the Government’s continued targeting of restrictions on late-night venues and bars, when they have admitted most transmission takes place in households.

“As a result of this measure, we foresee a surge of house parties which are the real hotbeds of infection, attended by frustrated young people denied access to night-time hospitality venues.”

But Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said: “There is evidence that the longer venues stay open, the greater degree of social mixing that takes place.”

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