Covid-19

I feel too grown up to say it but ‘it is just not fair’

I feel too grown up to say it but ‘it is just not fair’

Even before Covid the legal requirement for an operator was immense.

Our licenses require us by law to be responsible for the behavior of everyone on our premises at all times if we are on site or not.

But Covid and the Government response has thrown up a whole new set of legal responsibilities overnight which change sometimes daily.

With the implementation of new rules, sometimes with no notice, there is no time for the local enforcement authorities to even decide their local interpretation.

So whilst operators are trying their best to interpret the dribbles of information that they receive and the different interpretations from different bodies from Central Government, to Local Government to our varied trade bodies the enforcement authorities are doing the same thing and coming up with different ideas.

The mess that is ensuing is the operator, whilst working exceptionally hard to keep everyone safe (and incidentally trying to save their business and communities in all this) being called up for breaches of the ‘rules’ whilst neighbouring operators ‘get away’ with other seemingly more significant breaches.

I feel too grown up to say it but ‘it is just not fair’

What next after Eat Out to Help Out?

What next after Eat Out to Help Out?

After all the uncertainty of lockdown the heartache and worry what a rush! …

There will be fewer customers spending less money but if we provide for them what they need it will be the best of us that they choose.

Congratulations to all the venues that have ridden this wave so far - there is a long way to go but this uncertain future could be really exciting.

Should pubs and bars be opening on 4th July?

Should pubs and bars be opening on 4th July?

What do our customers really value? What is the purpose of the visit to the pub or restaurant?

Whatever it is it is certainly not to satisfy a need for hunger or thirst. It is to be part of something, to be in a space that feels comfortable, to be part of a community, and to be free to relax, to be yourself, and connect with others. To be part of the hustle and bustle, to be where things happen and fond memories are made. It is about creating stories to be shared…

The Future of pubs & bars post Covid-19

The Future of pubs & bars post Covid-19

The environment within which we are operating was changing anyway. Covid-19 had just accelerated things. There is going to be a sudden and potentially dramatic change but customers will still exist.

Businesses that are going to thrive in the future are going to be those who really understand their customers and work on how they incorporate all that understanding into their business.