Staff at Wetherspoon pubs across the Harrogate district are on a high hygiene alert to keep their premises germ free as the coronavirus crisis deepens. 

The pub chain, which serves food and drink to thousands of customers per week at the Winter Gardens in Harrogate, The Crown in Knaresborough and Unicorn in Ripon, has introduced an alarm bell system, which reminds staff on a regular basis to clean all surfaces that can be touched by customers, staff and suppliers. 

The emergency procedures apply across the whole of the Wetherspoon estate and staff are receiving practical advice and updates from head office on a daily basis. 

The Stray Ferret witnessed a cleaning session at the Unicorn Ripon this week, which happened straight after the alarm bell rang. All surfaces including door handles, bar tops, coffee machines, tables and chairs were assiduously wiped over. 

Unicorn regulars, Tim Freeman and Russ Kell (pictured above), were unaware of the bell alert initiative, but were impressed when told about it. Tim said:

“The tables in here are clean enough to eat your dinner off and the bar is always immaculate. I didn’t know that extra measures had been brought it, but it’s reassuring to discover that Wetherspoon are looking after customers to this degree.” 

Russ adds: “I’ve eaten at Wetherspoon pubs all over the country and they operate to a very high standard. It’s good to hear that they are protecting us in ways we didn’t even know about.” 

Businesses struggling to stay afloat could be dealt a devastating blow if the coronavirus crisis worsens in the Harrogate district. 

After months of Brexit uncertainty, the negative impact of the UCI cycling for some businesses in September, and weeks of bad weather at the start of the year, spring could have brought much-needed relief. 

Now, fears are growing that restrictions on travel and public gatherings could further impact businesses – many of which are teetering on the edge of survival. 

Sue Kramer, who owns Crown Jewellers on Commercial Street with her husband, said:

“If it does take hold, I think it could be catastrophic for many businesses.

“We’re fortunate not to be struggling, but there are many who are. How many businesses have enough of a cushion to tide them over for an unknown length of time?” 

Her views were echoed by William Woods, of Woods Fine Linens of Harrogate, who said: “We’re very concerned. There are no cases in Harrogate yet, but it could have a devastating effect not only on our business but the whole town centre.” 

Concerns over self-employed

The government this week announced it would offer statutory sick pay from the first day of absence to anyone who was self-isolating in order to avoid the risk of spreading coronavirus. However, this would not benefit self-employed people, or those on low wages or zero-hours contracts. 

With a higher than average number of start-up businesses in the district, along with many jobs in low-paid sectors including care and hospitality, there could be resistance to self-isolating among people who would stand to lose two weeks’ wages as a result. 

The Victoria Shopping Centre in Harrogate has reported no noticeable impact on footfall so far

Kate Curtis, an independent inventory clerk who works with estate agents in the Harrogate area to assess properties, said it could also affect people working on commission, who rely on the extra money on top of their basic wage and would lose it if they were not working. 

“If you are the main bread winner, there’s a huge amount of pressure to keep earning,” she said. “As a busy self-employed person, I’ve struggled to keep up with the advice because it seems to change all the time.” 

Energy surveyor Nick Cushing, who lives in Wath near Ripon and works across North and West Yorkshire, said: “As somebody who works on my own, if I’m incapacitated, the earning stops immediately. 

“If you worked for somebody else, you would be more willing to drop tools and say, ‘it’s not worth it’. When you are self-reliant and self-employed, you will carry on doing what you are doing until the very last moment and sometimes beyond.”