The owner of a Manchester city centre bar has called for an end to train strikes which he says have resulted in a huge drop in sales.
Mark Wrigley, the owner of Atlas in Deansgate, said his takings were 'down 20pc' on days when rail workers had taken industrial action.
Train drivers from both Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are staging another walk out today (Friday) amid a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and working conditions.
READ MORE: Woman was fined after boyfriend threw her out 'naked in the middle of the night'
Atlas, which is next to Deansgate railway station, had taken a 'significant hit' as a result of fewer commuters using the trains, said Mr Wrigley. Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain today, he described the drop in trade as 'very worrying'.
He added: "We get no commuters because the trains are not working then the following days, there's usually a lot of disruption. Trains are cancelled and people are quite nervous, so they tend to stay away.
"It's not as dramatic the day after the strike day but it still depresses our usual sales pattern."
Mr Wrigley, whose daughter is a teacher, said he believed 'everyone has the right to strike', but added: "My feelings are, particularly with the train drivers and some of the salaries that have been mentioned compared to a new teacher like our daughter, I think this has dragged on long enough so it needs closure."
He called on unions and the government to 'get around the table' to bring the strikes to an end.
"If I had an issue with my bar, I would be tripping over myself to get a resolution," said Mr Wrigley. "It is upon the employer and the government, but equally the unions need to seriously look at what impact they are having on the wider economy and small businesses like ours.
"They need to start making some serious compromises. It just seems to me that we're in this intransigent stage where neither side are willing to make any movement at all. I find it totally unacceptable on both sides.
"We're trying to operate an independent business here, as are lots of other businesses around Manchester and the country, and we need closure. We need it sorting."
The UK's hospitality sector is set to lose more than £100m in revenue as a result of industrial action this week alone, the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned.
The NTIA's CEO Michael Kill warned that the government "cannot ignore the growing frustration and anger" of industrial action "hammering" businesses across the country.
READ NEXT
Inside Stockport's new games bar offering a hit of nostalgia
Chef Paul Kitching has died - tributes are pouring in from the restaurant world
Gary Neville 'incredibly excited' as full details of new Stock Exchange Hotel brasserie announced
Manchester bar hits back at one-star review slamming staff for wearing crop tops
