Noel Nevin, Cavern

The small music venue owner and promoter on covid-19’s impact.

Last spring when covid arrived, what steps did you take to continue staging shows at your venue, The Cavern in South-West London?

I tried to carry on as best I could. I still put bands on five or six nights a week until the day we were told to close. We didn’t have limits or restrictions at first, so I just carried on until I couldn’t – after the first lockdown and we were allowed to open again with restricted numbers and having to serve food etcetera. As a recognised grass-roots music venue, I was allowed to open without serving food, provided I charged to get in and only opened to put live shows on to a limited number of people. So I put bands on every day, opened at five p.m. and closed at ten p.m., as the curfew made us do. I was full to capacity [about 50 people] practically every night during this period.

When things closed down, how did your regulars react?

I have lots of die-hard regulars that were devastated while I was forced to close. I kept them all up to date with my future plans and when we could start again via Facebook.

How badly was potential capacity affected? Capacity when normal is about a hundred and fifty. During this period I limited it to fifty maximum, all seated and kept one metre apart.

Without getting too personal, did you personally suffer hardship?

Not to bad, to be honest. Money was tight, but I stayed very positive and planned for the future. I sold a few pieces of the numerous memorabilia I own to keep me going.

Was your mental health affected?

Not at all. I do not know the meaning of feeling down. Nothing will ever defeat me – fact!

On an upbeat note, compared to pre-lockdown equivalents, presumably there’s now an additional mood of celebration at shows?

My punters are absolutely loving the shows I’m putting on. I’m booked nigh on a year ahead with some top-notch bands and everyone is chomping at the bit for normality to return on the nineteenth of July.

What would you say to someone who was a regular gig-goer but is now reticent about going back?

Don’t worry, get your jabs and I’ll see you at the bar. The vaccine is working and in time we will overcome this pest. Life is too short to worry.

Are you optimistic for the future?

I’m very, very optimistic, yes. In a few months this will all be a bad memory.