Kentish Express Ashford & District
Pub bosses look to an uncertain future
Pubs and restaurant owners were left devastated when it was announced they must close. Many have spoken out about the situation they are in.
Worried Sharon Cullen from Wellingtons in Deal has set up a GoFundMe site to help her business get through the next couple of months.
As a relatively new business having only opened in February 2019, she needs to raise £25,000 to survive.
She said: “As a business we still have financial commitments to uphold, including but not limited to; our rent, paying our suppliers, and our gas and electric bills.
“To have survived our first year in business and then see it slip through our fingers is utterly heartbreaking, therefore, we are asking for help from those who can, during this financial crisis.”
Many have had to furlough their staff and rely on other government schemes.
Senior manager Ade
Rowsell, of the The Brenchley, Maidstone, says the majority of the staff are now off work.
He said: “As a business we are just trying to seek all the help that’s being offered, but it seems to be a slow and painful process.”
Bosses at the Red Lion in Stodmarsh, near Canterbury, insist it will reopen when the crisis is over and say they have used the time to forage and create new menus.
The upmarket tavern decided against introducing a delivery service after it was forced to close because it was felt it would not be a profitable move.
General manager Morgan Lewis said: “It’s been a total nightmare because everything’s stopped and we’re getting no income.
“Financially, we’ve obviously taken a big hit – but the government’s given some quite decent help.
“Because people have been locked up for so long, when this is over, they will be excited to get out – and we’re the sort of place that people can look forward as we do stuff that’s different.”
A pregnant restaurant and bakery owner from Deal had envisaged strapping her newborn to her back as she continued work, until coronavirus arrived.
Instead, Anna Vidler and her husband Chris have had to close down The Lane cocktail bar and restaurant and sister company The Lane Bakery.
And while the pandemic is allowing them to settle into parenthood at home and enjoy precious time with their new son, it’s mixed with the emotions of having to say a temporary goodbye to staff.
They say they hope to return as strong as before but it is dependent on support from the government, not only to cover wages but also rent and bills.
She said: “It has caused us so much worry, stress and makes us really sad that we have had to say goodbye to our staff temporarily.
“We hope the government can support us as we do not want to watch our business crumble.”
Peter Kray, manager of Shepherd Neame pub The Crown in Rochester, said: “We have received great support from Shepherd Neame. We have around 15-20 full and part-time staff at the pub who are all currently furloughed, but we hope that our team will be reunited and able to resume their normal work on full pay as soon as possible.”
When the pub closed, the team donated all the unused fresh food, totalling around £400, to local charities to help the homeless.
Managers of Dartford’s Wig and Gown, Alan Pulfer and Yvonne Rickards, said: “We’re trying to take everything day by day.
“We are not doing any deliveries, but once this is over, we are hoping to re-open as a community pub, with bands, DJs, freedom nights and other events. We’re also bringing in a new menu.”
Licensee of the Ship and Lobster, Gravesend, Lizzie Brown, said: “We’re trying to make the best of the bad. We’re going to deep clean and re-decorate the bar area during the lockdown.
“We’ve had a lot of people phone up to see if we’re open and as we’re by the river path we’ve seen a lot of walkers, more than usual. But we’re shut, we’re doing our bit and getting ready for when we can open up again.”
Karensa Miller runs another Shepherd Neame pub, The Zetlands Arms in Kingsdown near Deal, which was used for filming of ITV’s Liar.
She said: “Shepherd Neame have been very supportive during this closure. We do not want to close and we will do our best to stay open.
“We would like to be open by August if at all possible so we can get some of the summer before the winter sets in.
“I am busy decorating the inside of the pub so it’s a fresh start after this terrible time.”