Delayed reopening of pubs could be devastating for the industry

By Tara O’Connor, local democracy reporter

Less than 10 days before Christmas pubs across London were forced to close as coronavirus restrictions were tightened.

And with a national lockdown now unlikely to end before the spring there is uncertainty about when they will be able to reopen.

Landlady of The Oval Tavern in central Croydon, Esther Sutton said closing at short notice was tough.

The pub ended up offering takeaway Christmas dinners and each week is offering up Sunday roasts.

It is also offering a series of virtual events, including gigs, but Esther says nearly a year on from the first full lockdown people are ready to get back to the pub in person.

“It is just horrible, I miss everyone’s lovely faces. We’ve done a few virtual gigs and DJ sets but I think that people are a bit screen weary, having to live life virtually is getting to people a bit,” said the landlady.

“Everybody was thinking it was going to be reviewed mid-February, we were kind of hoping we’d be open in spring sometime. Then the news came out it would be May or even June which was kind of soul destroying.

“I respect that we have to be very careful but it has been devastating news for the industry.

“We are okay, I’ve applied for the various grants that are available. There doesn’t seem to be the level of support there was in the first lockdown. I think if we are looking at early summer for reopening, the businesses do need more support, an extension of furlough and the business rates holiday.

“The Government is talking about road maps, we definitely need dates and clarity and a plan to work to.”

Like The Oval, The Sparrowhawk in Crystal Palace has also been serving up takeaway Sunday roasts as well as ready made pies, but the uncertainty is taking its toll on the pub.

Danielle Mason, who runs the pub with Robin Priestley, said: “Our landlord is charging more rent than in the last lockdown, so that is a bit painful, we are having to make difficult decisions.

“Furlough is great but we are still paying national insurance contributions and don’t have much money coming in.

“Just before the lockdown we spent £10,000 on our garden to make it more Covid safe so we haven’t been able to make any money back from that investment.”

She hopes that the pub can open up in some way by Easter.

But Andrew Taylor who runs Mr Fox in central Croydon thinks hospitality will not be able to reopen until May.

He said: “It has been a bit strange, like deja vu. At the moment we are just doing maintenance work that we’ve had planned through the entire year.”

Once work on a new commercial kitchen is completed Mr Fox will start offering some takeaways of bottled cocktails and meal kits, hopefully in early March.

“We are not in a terrible place financially at the moment but the longer it goes on the longer we are eating away at our cash reserves,” added Andrew.