Pub partners celebrate first year in business despite the lockdown
A PAIR of publicans who learned their craft in one of Ashbourne’s most prominent pubs are celebrating the first anniversary of running thier own business.
Emma Hall and Ryan Yates took over the ownership of The Star at Cotton, near Alton, last year and first opened their doors to customers on March 5.
The two friends, who met while working at the George and Dragon, in Market Place, will be hosting a street food barbecue and offering customers the opportunity to see what’s on offer as they mark their first year in business.
Emma worked for her parents at the George and Dragon, while Ryan worked his way up from being a pot washer to becoming the pub’s manager.
Despite their first foray into pub ownership being cut short within days due to the coronavirus lockdown, they have been working hard to keep their business ticking over, and the pair have now signed a 10-year lease.
Emma, 31, who lives in Chesterfield, said: “We were really excited and couldn’t wait to get in. We stayed open for 14 days and then got shut.
“We had entertainment booked and planned the buffet and everything. We got closed and lost our money on the entertainment.
“We did a launch menu, too, and lost quite a bit of money on beer and stock. We were gutted and we both started crying when we heard the news.”
Although emotional at first they took the opportunity to put their own stamp on the business and work out ways to adapt to the ever-changing business environment.
They launched a takeaway service and delivered afternoon tea bundles to customers.
Emma said: “Nobody expected it, nobody knew what was going on and we still don’t know. You don’t know whether you are coming or going.
“It’s been a mess of a year. I thought we would struggle.
“When we moved here we had a lot of support from our customers in Ashbourne.
“There were a lot of new things and we have kept our old customers. too. It has been good. We have built a really good reputation.
“We are keeping our overheads covered and are above water. Hopefully, we will come back stronger when we are able to open up. “There are so many lovely comments and we have had thank you cards through the post. People have said we have brightened up their lockdown. We cater for birthdays and anniversaries and things like that so we have delivered afternoon teas and mini celebration platters.
“We’ve put our heart and soul into this, it’s a 24-7 job because you are constantly getting messages and doing the orders and keeping everything updated.
“The business is everything and we want it to succeed and expand. Hopefully, we are going to expand and get another pub in the future as well.”
To mark their first anniversary the team are going to be holding a street food barbecue on March 6 from 3pm to 7pm which is being offered as a takeaway service. Social distancing rules will be in place.
Emma said: “We just want people to pop in and say hi. I’ve done a menu of various burgers and steak sandwiches. Different bits of street food. There will be something for everybody.
“I am excited because we have cancelled all our events for this year. I hope people come and say hi because we are missing seeing people and having that physical contact.
“We will have one member of staff inside. Customers will enter through the front door through a one way system, pay for their food and come back out of the side entrance and collect their food from the gazebo.”
It’s been a struggle. Hopefully we will come back stronger when we are able to open up.
Emma Hall