Village pub diversifies in the wake of the virus
THE coronavirus lockdown continues to be a heavy blow for the pub and hospitality trade. With no reopening dates set for Wales or the UK as a whole, many landlords are counting the days until they are given the green light to fully open again.
One pub that has adapted to the lockdown is the Black Lion Hotel in the Carmarthenshire village of Llansawel.
Samantha Jones, husband Simon and her aunt Susan Richardson have been running the pub for the past 13 years.
It was awarded the top food hygiene rating of ‘5’ just days ahead of the lockdown, and has been offering a takeaway and home delivery service, plating up everything from its usual full menu to pizzas and a Wednesday burger night. All delivered to the village and surrounding areas, even as far as Lampeter.
On top of all that, they have even set up a makeshift shop in the bar with tables stocking everyday essentials like bread and milk to chocolates and washing up products.
The pub used to sell some basics before the lockdown as there was no village shop, but expanded its range for residents.
No-one enters the pub and everything is served through the windows which open out to form a hatch system.
The family has been juggling adapting to the new daily regime and also helping their four children with school work, Telina, aged 12 and her three younger brothers Callum 11, Joshua, 9 and Lucas, 4.
Samantha said: “When the lockdown was announced we sat down and thought what are we going to do, it was worrying.
“It wasn’t just our pub, it was our home as well. However, the community spirit in the village has been lovely from the start. Messages of support and everyone helping each other, it’s fantastic.
“We have also been helping the children with work a couple of hours a day, we don’t push them and it’s been an adjustment.”
Like many pubs, the first weekend after lockdown was Mother’s Day and with so many bookings and food prepared it was difficult.
That is until calls started coming and the pub offered a takeaway service for the Mother’s Day meals, which proved hugely popular with some 70 meals being prepared overnight and a 5am finish for Samantha and the family.
The diversifying and having to think on their feet in the wake of the virus has seen the family even making cream teas – a batch of which was donated free to nurses at the Covid-19 ward at
Carmarthen’s Hospital.
Samantha added: “Without the support of the village we wouldn’t be able to do this, we have managed to keep our heads above water.”
The coming weeks and months are naturally a concern for the Jones family.
Firstly, the reopening of schools in Wales on June 29, something that doesn’t sit well with Samantha and she has taken the decision not to send hers back for the remaining four weeks of term.
“We took them out of school even before the lockdown and there are a
Glangwili lot of elderly and vulnerable in the village so we don’t want them to potentially put anyone at risk by going to school too soon.”
Another factor is just how will pubs reopen their doors and get the pints pulled again? With no clear answer, Samantha said they are looking at ideas.
“It’s been suggested that pubs with beer gardens may open first to help with social distancing.
“We don’t have one but are looking at how we may be able to create one in the yard, all at extra cost of course.
“We are concerned about the future because of the effects of the virus and everyone is in the same situation in this industry.
“When lockdown began the brewery was very good to us and took back barrels, even half barrels.
“Hopefully things will be able to get back to some sort of normality soon.”