"Covid-19 lockdowns cost Bedworth pub £250,000"

[dutchman]

Landlord of the Travellers Rest described the latest lockdown as 'a kick in the teeth'



A Bedworth pub has lost out on a quarter of a million pounds as the country has lurched from one lockdown to the next.

The usually bustling and lively Travellers Rest in Bulkington Road currently sits dark and dormant - along with pubs up and down the UK.

And for landlord Bill Ford it's a sad sight that he describes as a "kick in the teeth".

Since March last year, the pub, known locally as the Travs, has opened its doors when it could and obeyed all the rules and restrictions put in place around social distancing, table service and face masks.

But with no definitive end date for the current third lockdown and when pubs can let the punters back in, the future of many pubs hang in the balance.

When asked how the past 12 months have been for those in the hospitality business, Bill told CoventryLive: "Terrible. You just don't really know what's going on.

"At times it was two weeks here and two weeks there (when the pub was open), but we have to just do what they tell us.

"It's been a kick in the teeth and you see people keep going on about supermarkets and the things you see, it beggars belief."

The Travs, which has around 13 part-time bar staff on its books, has made the most of some financial help from the Government, but has not relied upon it solely.

So how has the coronavirus pandemic affected the pub's financial situation?

"In terms of our takings, you are probably looking at about a quarter of a million pounds over the last 12 months that we have missed out on," said Bill.

"The good thing is that Sky haven't been charging. We pay £1,000 a month for Sky and BT - BT are taking a nominal one per cent fee.

"If we had had to pay that, then that would have crippled us.

"We are also fortunate in that the pub is owned so we don't pay rent. Those that pay rent are really struggling."

Bill did say that with Sky still showing football games that are being played behind closed doors during lockdown, he expects the TV giant to "want some of their money back" at some point, so guessing how much they will charge the pub in the future is unknown.

"That will make a massive difference to a lot of people," he added.

Despite being closed for so long, the pub does still have outgoings such as a "massive" electricity bill and the licensing fee to the council, which Bill has queried the need to pay if the pub is not open.

It was reported this week that pubs may not be able to open until May under a three-stage release from lockdown being considered by the Government.

Casting his eye to the future, Bill said: "We don't know what normal will be.

"We are a very sporty pub with a number of teams. We have something going on every night with some sort of team, or something is happening at the pub with darts, dominoes, pool.

"The leagues for them...I don't think they will ever reform. So we have to get people in to the pub another way."

Bill added that he "feels for hospitality" and those who work in it and believes we will see a number of businesses "fall by the wayside".