Looking to future Pubs plan for life after lockdown
CHELTENHAM pubs have spoken up about the turbulent few months ahead of them. The landlord of The Old Restoration and the landlady of The Bayshill in the town have shared their thoughts and fears for the remainder of the pub trade year.
Lisa Barnes, publican of The Bayshill Inn in St George’s Place, recently revealed that she had spent £6,000 on installing a new cafe space in the pub’s garden as a new way to make ends meet during the winter.
And with a second lockdown looming it looks like this coffee shop might be the pubs salvation as they prepare to ride out the winter.
Lisa said: “We’ve just bought a load of food and had beer delivered, the food we’ll be giving to Cheltenham food banks, and most of the beer will keep - at least we’ve been given notice this time.
“Last lockdown we were told we have to shut overnight, this time at least we have a few days.
“But the plus side of launching our coffee shop is that it can stay open in the garden.
“We’re looking to start making takeaway food using some equipment from the kitchen, paninis, sandwiches, things like that.”
New lockdown restrictions are due to come into force today as the Government acts to try to reduce soaring Covid cases.
While schools remain open, nonessential shops including sit in pubs and restaurants have to shut for a month.
Lisa added that they were hoping to offer a substantial amount of sit down meals in December when lockdown had been lifted and a Santa’s Grotto in the garden.
But she said that if lockdown was pushed back further than the current expectation of December 2, it would affect them quite considerably.
She said: “It’s not now that worries me it’s January and February, which are the worst months in the pub trade.
We’ll get a grant but everything comes out in March - you’re just piling it on for next year. You need to make double the money for half the trade.
“I will be sad if they push it further into December.
“But at the moment it’s okay because everyone gets a month off and gives us a chance to enjoy furlough.
“They’ll have to do something in January like the Eat Out to Help Out again to help places get back on their feet.
“But for now at only a month it gives people a new appreciation, doesn’t it, when they lose what they’ve had.”
On the other end of Cheltenham, is the towns ‘oldest pub’ The Old Restoration.
The lease holder, Mike Porter said that they initially did really well after the pubs were allowed to reopen again, but after the new restrictions came into place (rule of six and closing at 10pm), they took a hit.
Publican Mike said: “It’s hard but it is what it is. Now with this lockdown we’re just trying to catch up with our debts. We were just starting to get it right again. It’s a catastrophe.”
Mike added that he too will be donating the large majority of food they have left to local foodbanks, and said that the support he’s had from Butcombe Brewery who own The Old Restoration has been invaluable.
He said that they have been helping with marketing and looking through their menus, all free of charge.
But Mike said it was the Government support that would matter most in the long run.
“If the government support us in terms of grants it won’t be as bad,” he said.
He said: “At least with furlough people will have a job to come back to, but the concern is looking ahead.”