The Butcher’s Hook has now announced that it will be closed from today (Saturday), after hoping to be able to offer a collection service - and other pubs are also being forced to shut.
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As reported, the Butcher's Hook previously hoped to move to a collection and delivery model – and had already started with the former.
But, as reported in Saturday’s press, “Boris Johnson took the extraordinary step of ordering pubs, clubs and restaurants across the UK to close on Friday, and announced an unprecedented wage-support scheme to try to prevent a tsunami of job losses.”
An announcement from the Butcher’s Hook on Instagram said that decisions had been made balancing the staff’s financial security with the potential risk of worsening the spread of COVID-19:
“With yesterday’s announcement the government has gone a long way to helping secure our staff’s financial security and we are confident we can make up any shortfall.
“While operating as a bottle shop has clearly reduced the risks for all involved it feels the sensible choice for us to close now. The most difficult part is feeling like we have let our suppliers down so where you can please continue to support local business and breweries in this difficult time.”
The pub announced it is looking into doing local deliveries, but that could take time to establish.
Meanwhile in St Denys, both The South Western (Sat/Sun 1-3pm; Mon onwards 4-7pm) and The Dolphin have announced takeaway only “until ale is gone”, asking customers to bring cartons to use stock rather than wasting it.