“It isn’t a job to me — it is my way of life and I can’t wait to have that back,” says East Cowton landlady on the reopening of pubs and restaurants.
East Cowton’s The Beeswing Inn closed its doors on November 5 when lockdown restrictions shut down the hospitality sector.
This week, like many pubs and restaurants across the country, they will be back serving their loyal locals.
It is something that we all took for granted, meeting up with friends after a hard day at work and enjoying a cool, refreshing pint at our local pub.
Perhaps no one has missed it more than the thousands of publicans across the country, who rely on pubs being open to make a living.
Beth Robinson, the landlady of The Beeswing Inn in East Cowton, discusses her plans to reopen, the controversial plans for vaccine passports and her pride in her job.
Many traditional pubs and restaurants had to adapt to survive in lockdown and offer takeaway services.
The Beeswing offered takeaway from March 2020 to July 2020 but despite being an initial success, Beth said the longer that lockdown went on, the less business they got: “it was slowly not becoming a viable option.”
Having been closed for over five months, the village pub will finally reopen on Saturday, April 17 and will be open Friday to Sundays for food and drink.
Beth talked through the steps she is taking to make outdoor services safe for her customers:
“I am trying to do everything I can to make our outside space as comfortable and inviting as possible. We have invested in heaters, blankets, hired shelter in keeping with what’s allowed in the guidelines.”
“I am in the fortunate position to have a pub in a cracking community village, I am very well supported and I know my regular customers are desperate to come back and see us.”
There have been many suggestions about how the hospitality industry can reopen in a safe and sustainable manner.
One idea proposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson is the controversial vaccine passports, something that Beth doesn’t personally support.
Vaccine passports would require customers to show proof that they have either got immunity through the vaccine, antibodies or recently had a negative test.
“The idea being it’s something used only in a hospitality setting to me isn’t justified.”
“I provide an inclusive place for everyone to come and enjoy what we offer; this isn’t something I ever plan on changing.”
A poll of 5,500 consumers by Jefferies, the investment bank, found that half of Britons planned to make pubs their priority when lockdown restrictions are eased, a view that Beth shares.
“I have had a customer service-based job since leaving school.
“I have been at The Beeswing since 2013 and have built an amazing customer base, many friendships in this time and amazing team of staff, together creating a crazy pub family.”
“I can’t wait to get back to being at the centre of the community once again, organising village events, fundraising for our local community and being able to look after my locals.”
“It isn’t a job to me. It is my way of life and I can’t wait to have that back.”
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