I’ve never run a pub or restaurant (worked in both years ago) so this is purely opinion/speculation
in my mind it is worse for many of these establishments to be open in the current restrictions, financially speaking. They have to stay open with limited customers etc while paying for staff, rates, bills, stock etc.
if the government closed it down then a lot of that cost is offset to supports from the government.
Either way they’re fucked while the pandemic is ongoing. But some of them might be better off getting supports.
Many if not most open have no choice as getting squeezed by landlord. EWSS helps re staff and theres a holiday re rates. The rest of your post is fairly spot on, it’s actually a bad look , they will all be closed by midnight Sunday
based on what I saw in the pubs I worked in they basically operated at a loss Monday - Thursday, made small profits on the weekend to cover the week and really depended on the bonanza nights of big matches, local events etc and this was one of the more popular spots in a small town.
Anyone trying for one last hurrah and get serious browning points with their life partners(or if you’re just feeling horny) ahead of an impending lockdown book into a local hotel tomorrow night. Any that are still open are doing deals with this in mind. Your last chance for a while fuck knows how long exactly