Lockdown at The Barons Cross Inn: Addressing Challenging Times
It was early March, the weather was delightful, people were coming out again after the Christmas spend and we were anticipating building on a fruitful Spring. Little were we to know of what was to come.
My family and I arrived in Leominster in June 2019, eager to go into a trade none of us had worked in before but knew deep down it was in the heart and soul of every Englishman to want to run a pub.
Our first year proved to be a promising start. The warm welcome of many from both the Buckfield and Barons Cross estates, not to mention the Mayor, Clive Thomas, has instilled a long-lasting confidence in how we are running things.
With Coronavirus altering the structure of society for now, it goes without saying the uncertainty is proving a challenge. With the social aspect taken away, it is like having a burger and being left with only the buns. An unfortunate predicament, though it can happen.
This is not to say the buns are no good. If there is no mold, then why not make good use? Our building and kitchen facilities are fine, if there is work to be found then why not do it?
This is where we are now, buns but no burger. We decided once lockdown occurred to shift our efforts to different aspects of our business, namely our grounds which were untouched from the winter weather. In April, it was certain we would not be allowed to reopen for a while.
By late April, we established a takeout service, and are currently offering everyone’s favourites from homemade stone baked pizzas, steak burgers, and now fish and chips.
With each stage of the lockdown lifted, we will gradually follow suit and work out how to best adapt the pub to Government guidelines. We are looking at having our campsite and beer garden operational, utilising our outdoor bar, grounds and food service to keep the wheels in motion.
Ideally, like many places, we would wish to be fully open. Coronavirus has demonstrated that despite the cushioning industrialised societies provide, we are just as vulnerable.
This period is dependent entirely on our collective efforts as a society to pull together and keep going. The lockdown is placing enormous strain on all aspects of the economy.
Pubs are likely to be the last off the firing line, with each one coping differently. We consider ourselves to be fortunate having set up shop in Leominster. The West Midlands has reported the lowest number of Coronavirus cases and our large grounds will allow us to adhere to social distancing guidelines later down the line.
We might be left with aspects of our business, but it is these we can utilise to ride the wave of uncertainty and come out the other side. You can argue if we truly are a pub now.
All we can say is this: “It doesn’t matter, the Barons Cross Inn is still open for business”.
Barons Cross Inn Lockdown Takeout Menu
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