“I think there’ll be a lot of closures, and it’ll be permanent” - Pub owners in Calderdale getting ready to ride the storm

The government has implemented a 10pm closing time on pubs, as well as tighter restrictions on people’s movements, while rising infection rates may mean fewer people feel comfortable going out for a drink.

All of which has left Calderdale pubs and bars feeling the pinch during a hugely challenging year for the sector.

Andrew Russell, from The Black Horse Inn, Brighouse, said: “It’s very difficult, it was difficult before but it’s even more difficult now.

“For us it’s like starting all over again. We’ve been here 22 years and when we first came we had a big mortgage, a lot of debt, so we were working 24/7, up at six in the morning, going to bed at two in the morning, and we’re back to doing that again now.

“We can’t afford to bring staff in, so we’re up doing breakfasts in a morning because we’re a hotel as well, and we’re locking up late at night when the last ones have gone to bed.

“We’ve taken measures to make sure we’ll survive, it’s not going to be easy but we’re committed.

“There’s a lot of time been invested here and we won’t let that go.

“We’ll have to let most of the staff go, we’ve already let a lot of them go, and we’ll be taking on most of the work.

“I think there’ll be a lot of closures, and it’ll be permanent. It won’t be easy to attract people into this industry, it’s very low-paid at the best of times.

“Who’s going to want to run a pub or restaurant, which works on very low margins, it’s a low-profit business, who’s going to be attracted to come into it now?

“Very, very few people. It’s not going to be an attractive business to get into.

“A lot won’t be able to make it work.”

Christopher McCarthy, bar manager at The Copper Tree in Todmorden, says the new restrictions have adversely affected levels of trade.

He said: “Until the middle of last week it was absolutely thriving but since they brought in the new rules it’s been really quiet.

“We’ve gone from being short-staffed and it being really busy to nothing.”

He thinks the weather will be a factor in how busy the business is over the rest of the year.

“We’ve got outside seating and big gazebos up but if it’s absolutely leathering it down then no-one wants to be out do they?

“And you can’t have groups of friends together any more so that’s made a big impact because people do go out socialising with friends.”

Christopher says the business won’t be affected by the 10pm curfew as they close at 9pm.

“If we have to shut for two weeks in October like what’s being talked about then we’re going to need a lot of help.”Eat Out To Help Out was good, that brought money in on a Monday and a Wednesday for us, but because everyone’s been out you didn’t really see anyone on Thursday or Friday.”

The business, which is owned by Christopher’s mum Angela Gardner, opened in October last year.

“We did it all up in the sun last year and then we had to battle through that horrible winter we had.

“Then we finally got to a point where we thought things were starting to get good and we had to shut the doors.

“It’s been an absolutely crazy year.”

Tom Hughes, manager of the Victorian Craft Beer Café and the Kobenhaven, is reserving judgement on what the next few months will hold, but does think there will be further closures of pubs and bars because of coronavirus.

“I personally think we’ll head into another lockdown for the industry, I can’t see closing an hour early making much of an impact to be honest.

“Then there will have to be some sort of support.

“It’s very hard to plan for anything, any events we want to do, there’s no point wasting your time at the moment.

“I don’t really know what Christmas is going to be like this year, it’ll be challenging. It’s just a hard time.”

Jackie Inwood, owner of The Alehouse in Todmorden, says she feels physically sick that her business might not survive.

“I’ve got four tables I can use outside and five inside, and if they bring one household per table in, then it’s not viable for me.

“I’m normally a very positive person but I don’t feel very positive at the moment.

“All my life savings are in this, I’m 63, if my business goes under I’ve got no other way of funding myself. Emotionally and financially it’s worrying.

“I’m a positive person so I will get through. I’ll be shortening my hours, I’ll be closed three days and open four days.”

Jackie fears the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic will see a lot of pubs and bars being forced to close.

“Smaller bars have a different challenge to larger ones. I’ve been operating table service from the start because I couldn’t allow anyone up to the bar because that would impede people wanting to go to the loo.

“But that means I have to employ staff, which is another expense for the business.”

Lydia Taylor, manager of The Millers Bar, said: “Our customers have been superb and almost all have followed the rules that are there to keep them and our staff safe. Reviews and feedback have been overwhelmingly positive especially around how safe they feel when visiting us. Our team spent a long time planning our reopening to make sure it was viable without impacting on the customer experience too much and they’re doing a fantastic job.

“As a result we have now been able to launch our upstairs Lounge bar where people can eat and drink in relaxing surroundings, safely. It gives us additional capacity that we lose outside with the colder weather rolling in for autumn and winter.

“Thanks to customers returning again, we have also expanded the menu meaning more options and more reasons to visit again and again.

“Our online pre-booking system has worked superbly and helps us manage numbers, while allowing additional walk-ins on a first come, first served basis. And being able to safely accommodate people is vital now as we move towards winter, as people need that safe social interaction and connection. It’s about community as much as anything, but done so safely.

“By reopening our doors and customers supporting us by visiting and spending, it means we are able to employ people during this pandemic in the hardest hit age groups too. We don’t know what’s around the corner and things can and will change, but if a vaccine can be rolled out to offset social distancing, that will be game changing - meaning more people can visit pubs and other venues in greater numbers while staying safe.

“But in the meantime we, like every other business in the UK, have to ride the storm.

“It has been, and continues to be, very challenging especially when you look at the fact we are operating with heavily reduced weekly footfall due to reduced opening days and times. However, the support of customers has been heart-warming and we’d appeal to people to keep visiting in line with the rules and laws - and to those that haven’t yet returned, please give us a go.

“Fortunately when we were planning our reopening we decided to go with a 10pm close most nights until everything levelled out. That decision is proving wise now given the new closure times Government is enforcing. They do however need to take a longer term approach to support the industry and the millions of jobs it provides, rather than constantly chopping and changing the rules. We need clear guidance and stability.”