IF it's true... how will pubs survive this?

[NotKeenOnSwede]

If they remain closed for the entire year how on earth will they not fold altogether? Granted when they do eventually open they'll be rammed with punters (if allowed to be) but I really feel for people who are in this business. If cafes start to open surely they should open pubs too, with restrictions? No more than two people standing at the bar or groups of 3 only etc...

[DBML]

The truth is that they won’t. That’s why I don’t believe for a second that this will last the year.
Eventually we’re going to have to learn to live with this virus and it’s going to kill more people yet.

[Bigfishylittlefishy]

I think the problem with pubs is people tend to linger in them for hours. People don’t stay in coffee shops for hours on end. I would imagine it would be difficult to socially distance when alcohol is involved, good luck implementing those rules.

[NotKeenOnSwede]

Yes I know what you mean, if people are shit faced all social distancing is straight out the window

[collateralmadamage]

If we can establish testing and tracing there is hope.

[TiddleTaddleTat]

I'm gutted about pubs... I love pubs!!
But hanging around in pubs in close proximity to others + highly contagious virus = .... not gonna work

[NotKeenOnSwede]

I think it could work if people all behaved responsibly - which yeah I know not everyone is sadly. I love pubs too.

[helpfulperson]

Like everything else in life it will change, It may be that they become functions suites only, or spread out seating or beer gardens only. Only those that can adapt to the 'new way of life' will survive.

[collateralmadamage]

Or when its all over others with money will swoop in and take over.

[ProseccoSupernova]

Bars and restaurants allegedly opening in Italy from mid May so I can’t see why ours wouldn’t follow soon after. Mid June I reckon

[vera99]

Let's hope we can soon get back to normal.

[vera99]

.

[TheDailyCarbuncle]

There's no way they'll stay closed all year. Even so, a lot of them have already gone under, along with hundreds of other small businesses.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Pubs and bars can easily social distance with staff on the door, tables further apart and table service

I already know a bar with plans in place to do this

[freddiethegreat]

I need to drive through our High Street around 11pm several times a week. I am 95% certain one of our pubs is open behind closed shutters. In which case, pubs might survive longer?

[LilacTree1]

Vera99

Manchester Meme Guy! Yay!

[LilacTree1]

Laurie small places can’t do that, sadly.

[AuditAngel]

Freddie the police have asked people to report cases like that.

My husband and his family own a bar and a restaurant, both currently closed, and it is a great concern for. They are currently all furloughed, but we don’t know how long that will continue,

[Babdoc]

Some pubs are selling pints of draught beer as a takeaway service, which is apparently legal. So that might be one way to keep in business until the lockdown is over.
But it’s difficult to see how a normal crowded pub, with drinkers close together in a confined indoor space for several hours, could possibly be made safe.

[collateralmadamage]

The atmosphere wouldn't be the same to spend £5 a pint.
A lot if pubs probably would disobey it

[TheLastSaola]

They will need to suspend all financial outgoing whilst closed.

So holiday all rents, debt repayments, reduce staff costs to zero. This should be agreeable, though the government need to hurry up and suspend winding up petitions - which they've committed to but haven't done yet because parliament had a nice holiday.

Once done, they just mothball until they are allowed to open. They'll have to write off most stock they had in which will be a significant hit.

If they were financially viable before, then they should be able to reopen. The new insolvency regime (again promised but waiting on legislation) will make this easier so they can go insolvent to write off any creditors who won't accept a write down for accrued losses whilst closed.

Their problem will be reduced access to credit from banks facing heavy losses. And reduced trade from a country in recession and increased unemployment.

The length of time they are closed shouldn't really be their biggest issue, it will be how reduced their income is once they reopen.

[NotKeenOnSwede]

I doubt the 80% thing will be for much longer, at some point it'll be sink or swim.

[onedayinthefuture]

I would imagine public transport and workplaces are higher up there in contracting the virus. I think pubs could actually be ok if they were properly cleaned and had a limit on customers, hand sanitising on entering and leaving. The old school type boozers were already in decline.

[BuddleiaTime]

Pubs will be the last places to open along with theatres and cinemas.

Probably won't open much before Christmas then may have to close again if there's a spike.

Restaurants who can maintain distance will open before pubs.

[Tootletum]

Even if pubs can open, doesn't mean they'll get many customers. I'd have thought many people would be too scared.