The Bakers Arms by any other name is not JD Wetherspoons or any other city or town centre pub you might care to name.

The BA's limited size and space available, for once, in our favour, making social distancing and crowd(!) control easier to manage. COVID rules on such a small scale are of course far easier to implement.

Tables are not reoccupied until thoroughly cleansed and sanitised, no peremptory flipping of a J cloth here, admission controlled and strictly limited to permitted numbers, and of course screens and face coverings worn at all times.

Meticulous recording of contact details ensures the safety of all, customers and staff, local or otherwise. Local track and trace guaranteed as X saw Y talking to W and Z yesterday and J was on the bus to the Co-op this morning, etc etc.

It should be noted that even during the Summer's Eat Out to Help Out explosion of customers not once was it necessary to activate the track and trace system and we thank all who behaved responsibly, protecting both their own and other's safety.

'Do as you would be done unto ' certainly applies here.

This is not to say we believe town and city hospitality venues are not complying with government guidelines , but it must be clear to all that the difficulties associated with managing large anonymous numbers must surely arise. Nobody can fail to have seen the milling, partying crowds outside these venues after the curfew, crowds the police seem to have no control over.

No such scenes on the streets of Harkstead, no need for kettling, unless of the tea time variety, no baton charge or use of water canons. No patrol cars here either, but rest easy residents of Harkstead, your neighbourhood watcher is vigilant on your behalf after the 10pm curfew, public spiritedness alive and kicking, and for that we are thankful, your peace and safety guaranteed.

Finally, to the point of this comment from the BA, beginning with a quote from A Midsummer Nights Dream, ' And yet to say the truth, reason and love keep little company together nowadays,' for we could, despite all our efforts, about to be tarred with the same brush as our big brothers and ordered to close for the duration.

It seems such a childish cry 'It's not fair' - but IT'S NOT FAIR!