'Industry meltdown', last orders or back with a bang? How will Wakefield's pubs emerge from coronavirus?

Of all the things we're missing about normal life at the moment, a trip to the pub has to be right up there.
Pubs are likely to be among the industries hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis.Pubs are likely to be among the industries hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis.
Pubs are likely to be among the industries hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Though drinking from home and rickety online group chats may be trying to fill the void left by our beloved boozers, it's simply not the same.

But how will Wakefield's pub scene emerge from the pandemic after months of closure?

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Anecdotally, landlords and trade insiders say several venues, and the city's nightlife in general, were struggling before March and believe the current crisis may have seen them serve their last orders.

There are fears some boozers may have already served their last orders.There are fears some boozers may have already served their last orders.
There are fears some boozers may have already served their last orders.

Others, however, are buoyant about their prospects and are eagerly planning a return.

The government has already said hospitality will be among the last industries to exit lockdown, prompting The Sun's 'Pubs shut 'til Xmas' front page, but it's still not known exactly when they'll be allowed to reopen.

And even if the pumps are to be pulled again soon, the idea of having to operate a socially distanced tavern - complete with no standing at the bar and limits on numbers - prompts a sobering shudder to punter and publican alike.

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Louise Waters runs the award-winning and charmingly intimate Harry's Bar, off Smyth Street in the city centre.

Landlords say they've had plenty of goodwill messages from loyal customers.Landlords say they've had plenty of goodwill messages from loyal customers.
Landlords say they've had plenty of goodwill messages from loyal customers.

With the help of a co-operative relationship with her landlord and the government's grant scheme, she's confident the pub will survive and thrive.

Keeping people apart however, is considered practically impossible.

"If it was a phased, socially distanced return, I don’t think we’d be able to do that," Louise explains.

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"Harry’s Bar being what it is, it’s small and it’s cosy and that’s it’s character.

Louise Waters (middle) with staff Jack Messenger and Lou Clarke at the award-winning Harry's Bar, off Smyth Street.Louise Waters (middle) with staff Jack Messenger and Lou Clarke at the award-winning Harry's Bar, off Smyth Street.
Louise Waters (middle) with staff Jack Messenger and Lou Clarke at the award-winning Harry's Bar, off Smyth Street.

"We’d only be able to have maybe four or five people in sitting two metres apart. And how would we police that? If I had a queue of 30 people at the door when I open up, how do I pick a handful of them out and turn the rest away?

"You go to the pub to see your mates, give them a hug, play pool and chink glasses. You go for that social contact. You don’t go to sit several metres apart in an awkward silence.

"So I’d rather cut my losses for a little while longer and then do it properly when the time comes."

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Jamie Lawson, the owner of Ossett Brewery, agrees with Louise's assessment.

Tony Padgett (left) runs The Black Horse on Westgate. He fears the crisis may see of many of the city centre's old haunts.Tony Padgett (left) runs The Black Horse on Westgate. He fears the crisis may see of many of the city centre's old haunts.
Tony Padgett (left) runs The Black Horse on Westgate. He fears the crisis may see of many of the city centre's old haunts.

The brewery runs Fernandes, close to Kirkgate Station, and The Hop on Bank Street. Like many others its been running home deliveries during lockdown to keep business ticking over.

Jamie says the brewery has actually modelled the idea of a socially distanced pub and has concluded it's unworkable.

"We believe we’d be worse off than we are now if that was enforced," Jamie says.

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"The costs of policing social distancing are just too high, if you’ve got to have someone on the door and more staff employed to do table service.

"Your costs are going up at a time when you’re taking less in.

"If that happens and those things are imposed without financial help you’re looking at an industry meltdown."

A #NationalTimeOut campaign is calling for a widespread rent freeze for all pubs and restaurants.A #NationalTimeOut campaign is calling for a widespread rent freeze for all pubs and restaurants.
A #NationalTimeOut campaign is calling for a widespread rent freeze for all pubs and restaurants.

Jamie and the brewery are backing a campaign called #NationalTimeOut, which is calling for a rent freeze for pubs and restaurants until next year at least.

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It's a measure that would be gratefully received by managers like Tony Padgett, who runs The Black Horse on Westgate.

Tony says that he's only had his rent deferred rather than frozen and though he'd only reopen the pub if it was completely safe to do so, he's desperate for that to be sooner rather than later.

"For us, it looks like if we reopen in September or October, we’d start off with a £20,000 debt," Tony says. "That would cripple us.

“We’re ready to reopen whenever, and we’d really like to come back with a bang, but if the government does do phased return I think it will see a lot of pubs round here off.

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"Before all this happened, Wakefield’s nightlife had been struggling.

"Even on Fridays it was quiet until very late. I think without a very big push to get people back into the centre I think this could be the final nail in the coffin for a lot of places."

Despite that, what has been apparent to those in the business is that people's appetite for their local and the sense of community and camaraderie it brings is still very much alive.

Louise is optimistic about Harry's Bar's future because of what she calls her "loyal" customer base - many of whom she believes will be back for a pint as soon as they're able to.

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The Black Horse, meanwhile, has been streaming its famous 'Sunday Sesh' music online to keep its community together, while Tony's had plenty of goodwill messages from the familiar faces he'd normally be serving today.

Jamie, from Ossett Brewery, says the government needs to offer further financial help or reassurance quickly to pubs, or else many may fall by the wayside.

But in the long-term he believes the institution of the pub will survive.

"We're looking at a situation where many of the old haunts people grew up loving will no longer be there," he warns.

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"But speaking to people, the one thing they're missing most of all, apart from seeing friends and family, is the pub.

"It's a great British institution and it will come back.

"But people won't come back in droves until it's safe to do so."

More questions than answers linger over Wakefield's pub scene. While footfall in the city centre after dark may have fallen in recent years, swinging into town for a swig after work in the buzz of a public house remains a vital part of so many lives.

Several of those in the trade said they found accessing financial support during the crisis "quick and painless", but they may yet need more.

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One thing is for sure. When it is finally safe to do so, supporting your local will be more important than ever before.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

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