Roxane Marjoram, who operates five pubs under Suffolk-based Gusto Pronto, explains how the business has adapted to Covid conditions and that she now hopes the Government can break away from a ‘stop-start’ pandemic timeline.
By Fiona Hornsby, the Denbigh Castle and the Bridewell, Liverpool
Last year was an interesting one. We secured a long lease on the Denbigh Castle in Liverpool city centre and 2020 began with great hope and excitement.
By Gav Young, the Plough and Barleycorn, Isle of Wight
The whole industry has been led into viewing restrictions and changes from a purely fiscal perspective. In doing so we are missing the long-term devastation being wrought on the trade.
Like everyone else in the on-trade, Stuart Bateman of Lincolnshire-based Batemans wants to see pubs open ‘as soon as possible’ – however the Salem Bridge brewer isn’t buying into the idea of a Government witch hunt.
The owner of a pub which also boasts a zoo on-site has slammed the Government for not doing more to help the sector and said his business “wouldn’t be here” without its regulars.
Millions of pounds of rent owed to billionaire-owned pub group Wellington Pub Company from some of its tenants is currently in dispute, according to a survey.
The parent company of Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn confirmed 1,500 job losses in its latest trading update – just over 4% of its 36,000 staff.
Peter Collie of the Horseshoe Inn, near London Bridge, describes 2020 as a year he will look back upon and say ‘I was there’. Here he reflects on the past 12 months.
Peter Connolly of Nortons live music bar in Digbeth, Birmingham, explains how his venue was forced to dance to the erratic beat of pandemic policy throughout 2020.
By Marc Hornby, co-founder, the Virgins & Castle, Kenilworth, Warwickshire
Publicans Jonathan Carter-Morris and Marc Hornby received the keys to their new pub on 9 March – less than a fortnight before the UK’s first national lockdown. Here Marc reflects on taking on a site during a pandemic.
By Patrick Frawley, owner, East London Pub Company
Patrick Frawley, who owns and operates five pubs and bars in central London as well as five restaurants and bars in Ireland via the East London Pub Company, believes hospitality has been 'thrown to the wolves' in 2020.
