Coronavirus restrictions have been brutal on Harrogate’s hospitality sector. Marik Scatchard, the landlord of Christies Bar on Kings Road, explains what it has been like running one of the town’s most popular pubs.
New Year’s Eve last year was a busy night and at that point, we had no idea how the year would turn out.
It was terrible when we got locked down in March. We had to throw about £2,000 or £3,000 worth of beer down the drain. That didn’t feel good.
We got the £25,000 grant which the government thought would see us through, but the pub company we are with charged full rent during the closure. It didn’t help us – it just helped the pub company.
I was in favour of the lockdown because nobody knew what was going to happen. The virus is not great for some people.
Because I’ve got three children in school, I’ve had two lots of having to isolate for 14 days, and we all got covid at one point. We were all alright after two or three days. I didn’t really have any symptoms. My partner was rough for three or four days. My little lad, you wouldn’t have known he had it if he didn’t have a test.
Read more:
- Harrogate pub landlord calls £1,000 grant process an ‘absolute farce’
- Harrogate district pubs were ‘praying for tier one’
During the lockdown, I went into the pub to collect post and make sure it was secure. I’ve been a landlord at Christies for 13 years but it was horrible seeing the pub empty. It’s worse now seeing it empty because, before, everywhere was closed, so you took it on the chin.
When the last lockdown happened in November, everywhere was open except hospitality. It feels like we’ve been unfairly treated compared to other sectors. All these shops are rammed but you can’t come into a pub and sit at a distance, it doesn’t make any sense.
Christies Bar, Kings Road.
But when we reopened in July, we spent a lot of money to make sure it was covid safe. We’ve had no cases in the pub and we were very busy in summer. We thought, ‘if it carries on like this, we’ll be alright for Christmas’.
We very much depend on conference trade. There are massive ones in July and September. The British and International Golf Greenkeeping Association conference is usually in January and we can take about £30,000 in just three days. That will be gone next year.
You can’t see an end to it and I don’t think we’ll be open properly until Easter. But I think trade will be good again.
Harrogate pub landlord calls £1,000 grant process an ‘absolute farce’A pub landlord in Harrogate says the council should speed up paying a £1,000 grant to pubs that don’t serve food, calling the application process an “absolute farce”.
On December 1 prime minister Boris Johnson announced a £1,000 grant for “wet-led” pubs that do not serve substantial meals and have closed due to lockdown restrictions.
But almost three weeks later, pubs in Harrogate are still waiting for Harrogate Borough Council to accept applications for the fund.
Marik Scatchard, landlord of Christies Bar on King’s Road, told the Stray Ferret that despite being a relatively small amount the grant is “really needed at the moment”.
According to HBC’s website, applications for the grant will open “by the end of this month”, which Mr Scatchard says is not good enough:
“It’s an absolute farce that HBC is treating businesses like this, even with the grant being so little it’s still needed. Other councils have paid out or are paying out.”
Jack Woodruff runs the Disappearing Chin on Beulah Street with his wife Hannah. He said the council “really needs to speed up” the payment.
“We’ll be OK for a bit longer but there will be businesses that are desperate for the grant.”
Read more:
- Harrogate district pubs voice their concerns after being put into tier two.
- Despite very few cases pubs have to stay closed in Pateley Bridge.
After being forced to close for over a month, Christies Bar is now open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and is selling pie and peas as a substantial meal. The Disappearing Chin has decided to remain closed until restrictions are eased.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough Council said:
£1 a pint: Harrogate pub’s pre-lockdown deal“We anticipate applications will open before the end of December. We know that this is a difficult time for many businesses in the district and we are working hard to pay grants to eligible businesses as soon as possible.”
Christies Bar on Kings Road, Harrogate is selling pints of cask ale for £1 today to shift the last of its beer before lockdown begins tomorrow.
Landlord Marik Scatchard told the Stray Ferret it had around 200 pints of Black Sheep and Roosters beer to sell this afternoon — and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Mr Scatchard said business this week had not been as busy as expected and the offer would save the beer from a probable fate down the plug-hole.
He was disappointed the pub has been forced to close due to the month-long lockdown, and is waiting for news on financial support from the government. He said:
“There really hasn’t been any [financial] help this time. We still had to pay full rent last time for three months, which was a bit of a nightmare.
“We’re covid-secure and have had no issues since reopening.”
Mr Scatchard said he was unsure if there would be a melancholic atmosphere at Christies this evening, as drinkers sup their final pints for several weeks.
He hopes the pub will be able to welcome its regulars back on December 2.
Read more: