‘We’ll be here’ says pub video
SOME of Drogheda’s publicans banded together last week to record a video for social media letting their customers know they will be ready to welcome them back as soon as they can.
The video, which was shared by thousands on facebook and Twitter, was the brainchild of Coleman Sarsfield and is opened by Charlie Egan of the Black Bull, and features many familiar faces across the town and county’s hostelries
“We wanted to do something just to remind people we’re here and will open our doors as soon as we possibly can,” says Coleman, who many will know as ‘Joxer’. “We know our customers are frustrated and would love to get back to us and meet their friends, but we all have huge safety concerns and want to get this right when it happens.”
In the video, we get warm wishes and promises that ‘we’ll be here’ from the Black Bull, The Railway Bar, the Pheasant, The Thatch, Sarsfield’s, Nolan’s, Garvey’s, the Weavers, the Punt, the Admiral, the Fairgreen, Scholar’s Hotel, the Morning Star and the Cottage Inn.
“This is not about making money, but for many premises, it’s about trying to stay afloat, and the reality is, many businesses won’t survive this,” adds Colette Nugent from the Market
Bar, who is also president of the local Vinters’ group “None of us knows what the future will hold, and even if I could open, I could have maximum 10 to 15 people, and would bearly break even, so it’s not about being greedy, it’s about survival.”
Colette understands some premises are trying things to serve their customers, like takeaway pints, but feels people still need to be cautious. “The fact is, you can’t have your customers standing outside drinking, and they can’t drink in your cars, so it is difficult, but owners want their staff off the live register and back working, so are trying things like serving tea and coffee and food.”One business diversifying and offered takeaway beverages is the Punt in Fair Street.
“We’ve opened up a hatch serving tea and coffee, and also take-away pints with lids, and the social distancing thing will be hard to enforce, buy we are hanging in there and we’ll do what we can to keep our customers happy,” says owner Sarah Taaffe. “The message in the video is clear - what is a pub without the people, and when all this settles down, we’ll be here!”
The video was shot and edited by local videographer Marcus Prouse Jnr and can be found on the pubs’ facebook pages.