Expect prices to rise and toilet rules at the pub

LANDLORD MAKES PREDICTIONS

POST-LOCKDOWN pub-goers can expect less live music, price rises and one in, one out rules for the toilets, a landlord predicts.

The Harrow Inn, in Thurmaston, is run by Steve Ward, who has been a landlord for 40 years, six of them in his latest venue.

Steve said he is hoping to be able to reopen next month, in some form, and is ensuring the pub has all necessary measures in place.

This includes spacing out tables so people are two metres apart, erecting Perspex screens along the bar, installing hand sanitiser stations at each entrance and replacing fan system filters with those which can change the air in the room in four minutes.

Builders are working in the garden to create outside seating.

Steve said: “The easy part is the distance of tables. The hard part is keeping numbers limited.

“Toilets will have to be by key so as to have one in, one out, with a strict cleaning programme signed by staff and checked by managers.”

While closed, Steve and his team have been keeping busy by making and taking food to nurses and key workers at Glenfield Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary, as well as providing meals for Syston Food Bank.

Since early May, they have been serving takeaway meals at weekends.

The pub also hosts a fruit and veg stall on its car park every Friday and Saturday, with a donation from sales going to the NHS.

Steve plans to try to bring back as much of the menu as possible –

NEW WAYS OF WORKING: The Harrow Inn, Thurmaston, has added Perspex screens along the bar

depending on supply. We built up a big reputation for fish and had a daily supply direct from the docks at Grimsby,” he said. “Trade was so good before close that we outsold many fish and chip shops, with people traveling from as far as Skegness just for our fish.”

During lockdown, Steve has been maintaining contact with his customers by hosting quizzes and sets from musicians who have performed at The Harrow Inn.

He thinks it will be a while before we will be seeing live music in pubs again, as limits on customer numbers will make it impossible to cover the cost of a band.

He questioned whether many venues will be able to afford to pay for Sky TV to screen sports events.

“I think many breweries will offer good offers to get people back into pubs, but we all know prices are going to shoot up due to rents and cost and the limited numbers,” he said.

“I am expecting the government to release lockdown in pubs with limited opening hours but it’s something that we will have to work with.

“Whatever the government says, we are going to be ready to open in whatever form. It’s important to remain positive.”