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...

I hope the pubs open soon as my neighbour is driving us all bonkers.

A pub in our town is selling bottled drinks to take away through a gap in the window.

Some pubs could do it
Order by an App only like Weatherspoons For all food and drinks.
So no lingering at the bar Chatting socialising as such with people you don’t know .
Maybe space out the tables more .

Bonus of ordering by APP Is that if there is on outbreak it would be easy to trace the majority of customers
Can you Imagine the email or text you would get .😂
Whenever I’ve been to Weatherspoons I’ve always ordered using the App

In fact thinking about it if most shops restaurants bars did have there own App then anyone going in would scan their phone so stores and restaurants and bars know who’s been in .
That way if there is an outbreak you could trace people easily

Be ironic won't it, being carded for looking too old!

Opening pubs with social distancing means loads of them will go bust anyway, they need more custom than can fit in like that.

We are all bored of it.

It is going to rain this week.

Let's place a bet as to how long lockdown is going to last. .

The app is great. Used it for the first time in a weatherspoons pub when we took son to uni. That would work re distancing. You would have to remove tables to ensure distancing, no standing at the bar.

To be honest a pub, cinema, theatre are the last places I would want to go at the moment and for a long time to come I think.

Even if pubs are allowed to open, probably not enough of their customers would go, to make a profit
Not like they had huge margins before

Many businessess of all kinds closed before the lockdown, because they had too few customers, or their staff went off sick

Same with schools:
the govt had to shut them because so many teachers were going off sick and pupils being kept home

After lockdown, people will be desperate for work and to let their kids resume education,
so I expect those to happen

.... but the pub just isn't a necessity - anyone can drink in the comfort & safety of their own home
and more cheaply too

@tabulahrasa

That was the point I was going to make.

Alongside that, it's hard enough to get people to accept our licensing laws, the tantrums that some people throw when refused a glass of alcohol is disgusting. So trying to get them to social distancing or refusing entry because of it, it's not going to go well. And the staff and business are going to take the blame for that.

The only possibility really is serving food, pre bookings only, and a time limit on tables. Tables 2/3m apart and table service only.
You also have to account for staff, it'd be impossible to social distance with more than one person behind most bars, so the workload would have to be realistic for one person serving. Also kitchens, in order to maintain social distancing we could have 1 potwash and 2 chefs - we'd normally have 4 sometimes 5 chefs of varying degrees and maybe another potwash too if really busy. Again, they have to be able to reasonably cope with the orders coming through the kitchen.

Pubs are stuffed, they'd have to significantly raise their prices to be able to make any profit if they enforce social distancing, it would make drinking at home the far cheaper and safer option.

Our town has a micro pub that can only fit about 6 customers inside (at very max).

As much as this situation sucks for us (I have moaned a lot, too...) I am more scared of the food insecurity that might wash like a tidal wave over the poor countries on back of c19; from them not being able to farm or distribute their foods, and from their economies falling apart as we in the rich world stop buying the stuff they make or grow.

They'll reopen. There might not be as many as before, ownership might change, and things might be more expensive, but most people want to go to pubs. There's huge demand for them. That demand hasn't disappeared, although it may be reduced.

I think many people (not everyone obviously) will happily pay a bit more for a pint if they are regulars, to show support and loyalty to their local.

A PP mentioned pubs having to write off stock. A few local to me have been selling off stock by the keg! It's been a absolute bargin! Unfortunately we didnt have money at the time and by time payday came around they'd sold everything... a friend of ours got 4 kegs for just above cost price though!

I work in a busy pub.This time of year it would be heaving with customer's and I've got no idea what will happen.
We had such a great reputation the thing is if social distancing could be implemented and I highly doubt it the a ready pricey drinks would have to go up to cover less heads per sunny day or Xmas party.?
!Besides as many peopl have said fear would have them stay at home.

There won't be any Christmas parties this year

I rarely eat out or go to a pub but having to sign in etc - I don’t use a smartphone- would put me off.

Even standing at the sink next to another person would be banned.

I imagine a lot of people will just socialise at each other’s homes.

I think beer gardens and outside seating is the way to go with this. I read a study earlier about the transmission of the virus outside vs inside and the statistics were shocking. Maybe a beer garden with a limit on the number of people per table and number of people in total (one in, one out system) - surely some pubs can adapt in some way - I hope.

I'm not sure they will. They were already rapidly dying, unless they had diversified to provide appealing food, function rooms, etc.

I agree notkeen.

Pubs businesses will fold, the properties/businesses will be put up for sale. Someone else will buy them and many may reopen as pubs again. Some may not. Unfortunately the owners of the businesses, their suppliers and landlords may be left with huge debts.

I went to a busy pub a few weeks before lockdown with my husband (end of Feb). I knew it would be the last time and wanted one last dance. I was hoping to maintain some distance but hadn't expected it to be so rammed. Somebody i'd not seen in 20 years came up to me (he was absolutely steaming), grabbed my hand, put his arm around my shoulder to dance and then did the same to DH!

The pub has bands on. It was heaving, packed in like sardines. Lots of drunk people dancing, hugging, kissing.

After a few drinks it is imposible to socially distance!

How much is a pint these days?

Depends where you are and what you're drinking. Anything between £3.60 and £5 a pint where I work.

I think many people (not everyone obviously) will happily pay a bit more for a pint if they are regulars, to show support and loyalty to their local.

25% at most, I'd reckon. Not the doubling or tripling in prices needed to cover a similar fraction of customers and stay afloat.