Fears for the future of pubs in Calderdale due to coronavirus
PUB AND bar owners in Calderdale say they face a huge challenge to survive the coronavirus crisis.
With social distancing likely to stay in place until a vaccine or drug to treat coronavirus is found, according to the country’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty, Halifax’s vibrant bar and pub scene could be in for a testing time.
The government has announced help in the form of grants and relaxing planning rules so pubs and restaurants can operate as hot food takeaways, but more support could be needed in the near future.
Michael Ainsworth, who
I can only see an incredibly tough time ahead for anybody in the hospitality trade
owns the Grayston Unity and Meandering Bear with partners Jessica Ainsworth and Andrew Murphy, said: “If pubs and restaurants were allowed to re-open in September they’d probably have to have some social distancing measures, which might be more feasible in restaurants, but can you imagine doing that in a bar or a pub? And how would you police that on a Friday or Saturday night? I see huge challenges in making that work.
“There will be people saying ‘I can’t wait to get back to the pub’ but if there’s no vaccine, are people going to put themselves in that position. I think the reality is, probably not.
“A lot of smaller businesses have had the benefit of the £15,000 or £25,000 grant, which is great, but the worry for me is, if we’re allowed to open in the Autumn and there’s no vaccine, are we going to get enough trade to make it viable?
“I can only see an incredibly tough time ahead for anybody in the hospitality trade.”
Angus Wood, managing partner of the Stod Fold Brewing Company, said: “The pub business was not in good shape before the pandemic. Now, the specific issues they face are that they were the first businesses to be closed down and will probably be the last to reopen due to the nature of how pubs actually operate with public interaction at their core. They will therefore endure the longest period of uncertainty in what was one of the most fragile industries.”
Max Heaton, from the Shibden Mill Inn, said: “There has been plenty in the news about pubs being the last things to reopen, however it is the running within strict limitations such as reduced number of covers and maximum entrants that scares us the most.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK Do you fear for the future of our pubs?
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