So far, 2021 has been spent wholly under lockdown restrictions. But on Monday, Boris Johnson is set to outline the roadmap for the easing of lockdown in the UK.
Paying close attention to the announcement next week will be those working in Manchester’s hospitality industry, who have lived in a perpetual state of second-guessing and pivoting since the start of the pandemic.
As usual, ahead of Monday there has been leaked information and rumours have been flying around about what the prime minister will announce. Will the tiered system be axed? Will we still have the substantial meal rule? When can restaurants reopen?
In the past, hospitality has always seemed to get a raw deal when it comes to these announcements and had to deal with U-turns, fluctuating and confusing guidelines, and last minute instructions to close; making it impossible to plan from week to week, or even day to day.
But don’t worry, guys. Rishi Sunak has been having a natter to Gordon Ramsay this week, so he knows all about the struggles of those working in hospitality.
Over the next few weeks I'm speaking to industry leaders and experts to hear how they've reacted to the pandemic.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 18, 2021
It starts tomorrow with @GordonRamsay who sat down with me to talk about the challenges facing hospitality and how he launched a TV show in lockdown. #PlanForJobs pic.twitter.com/dk1pYjHsts
While the government continue to prove how fundamentally out of touch they are with the hospitality industry, we spoke to a few people from across Manchester’s food and drink community to see what they’ve been up to and what they’re hoping for from the announcements on Monday.
This lockdown, quite a few venues have chosen to stop operating completely until they’re able to welcome customers back in person.
Of the four sites that restaurant/bar group Common & Co runs (Common, Port Street Beer House, The Beagle and The Pilcrow) only The Beagle in Chorlton has continued to operate this lockdown, from which Nells Pizza have been doing takeaways and deliveries.
Talking about what he’s hoping for from the announcements next week, Dave Bailey from Common & Co, said: “A solid ‘road map’ that lays dates out clearly – and not in a rushed arbitrary way. A staggered approach to reopening with clear guidance and hopefully an approach that means hospitality isn’t locked down again.
“Oh and it would be nice if they didn’t drop the pubs reopening on a bank holiday weekend resulting in tabloid scaremongering and monster sesh anxiety. We want to come back but only when its deemed safe for our staff and customers.”
“Our infrastructure is in place largely from previous pivots. We have to wait till we know what we can and can’t do. Everybody in the supply chain needs notice. Lots of breweries haven’t kegged beer for months, for instance. We will adjust to any new protocol and the team on the frontline will boss it. Nell’s Pizza will return at Common and slices and pints will be a thing again.”
Another venue which is closed at the moment, 20 Stories is taking time this lockdown to focus on developing their menu and training for when they can welcome guests back through the doors.
Becky Wilkes, Marketing Manager of 20 Stories said:
“I am hoping for a reopening without the ridiculous, unnecessary restrictions. If we reopened with July 2020 guidelines that would be great. No 10pm curfew, no substantial meals, no one household rule.
“We can operate safely with the rule of six, serving amazing food and mega cocktails, in a seated setting. Is that too much to ask?”
When they are allowed to reopen, 20 Stories says they are ready to go, with a new spring/summer food and cocktails menu, al fresco dining on the terrace, all the necessary health and safety procedures in place and ‘the keenest staff so eager to return to work’.
Becky says: “I just miss interacting with people and seeing people enjoying themselves in a restaurant environment. I have been working from home throughout lockdown and it can be a lonely place when you are used to being around your amazing teams at work and have guest interaction every day. I’m Zoomed out.
“When you work in hospitality, you have a second family with your colleagues because you spend so much time with them, I can’t wait to be back on site with this family, doing what we do best!
“Manchester, we are ready for you!”
Blackjack Brewery, which runs Northern Quarter pub Smithfield Tavern and Jack in the Box bars in Altrincham Market and Mackie Mayor. The Smithfield closed its doors last year when the substantial meal rule was introduced, while the two bars were able to continue operating as they were in the same venue as food traders.
Of course, they’re all closed now for lockdown but the brewery has been continuing with home deliveries, and they’ve had a stall at Altrincham Market selling bottles and cans too. Blackjack is also hosting a beer tasting evening from the Smithfield this Saturday with live DJs and other entertainment.
“It’s that uncertainty that’s horrible at the moment,” said Rich from Blackjack.
“One of the main things is that when they do announce is that there’s a solid timeframe that we can all work towards rather than just rumours. That’s always been annoying, just being given last minute bits of information.”
Rich is also hoping for an end to the substantial meal rule which he described as ‘very damaging’ for themselves and other pubs like them that don’t serve food.
Before the pandemic, the team had made lots of plans to redo the brewery and pub, taking out loans to cover the work. Over the first lockdown, the Smithfield had a refurb, with a new roof and new booth seating. They have also invested in all new brewing equipment which is currently being fitted, which will mean they can produce a wider range of beer.
All of this work has been done without knowing when they will be able to welcome back customers into their venues.
Rich added: “The focus has been on surviving day to day, and hopefully from Monday we’ll be able to really start to plan properly.”
There seem to be mixed feelings among those who work in hospitality at the moment.
Both an eagerness and anxiety to reopen once again, but also a willingness to wait if absolutely necessary, nobody wants to do it too early and have to close yet again.
Luke from Escape to Freight Island says what’s needed more than anything is a consistent message.
He said: “From start to finish there’s been a complete volatility and opportunism in everything [the government] have done. It’s been a shit show really. But that’s the way it is and I’m not going to moan about that, we’re past that.
“So if I was going to wish for something it’d be a clear message for when hospitality can return. People need a date.”
Freight Island had only just opened the Ticket Hall, the second phase of their planned development for the Mayfield Depot. It was open for just four days before the second lockdown was introduced in November.
“For us it will just be returning to where we left off, which is just reopening with an even bigger bang,” said Luke.
“When we first came up with the idea of Freight Island… I used to go to New York, I just loved Coney Island and the whole city going to this place where you can bring the family, go with friends, you’re outside, you’re eating, there’s entertainment, there’s fun, there’s booze. And we wanted to do that but with quality food and one of those places that had that effervescence and excitement.
“In those three or four days that we were open, it was actually really exciting. So, for me it’s just rewinding back to then and starting again.”
Freight Island has now planned a huge food and drink festival, Kantina Weekender, for the second May bank holiday weekend. It’s the kind of exciting events that we all need to be able to look forward to right now.
A clear message
Overwhelmingly, those who work in hospitality just need to know what is going to happen. It’s something that you feel should go without saying, but as past experience has shown us, it needs to be said.
They need a clear roadmap, a date, something they can plan for.
They need to know that when they spend money on stock, they won’t be told to once again shut up shop, told to throw away the food or pour the beer down the drain.
We all want to get out of the house, to get back to restaurants and pubs and bars and see our mates, and all of those wonderful things. And no one wants to be locked down again, so we understand it needs to be done safely.
If we need to wait a little longer, ok, but let’s just hope that this time, we can have a clear plan, something that extends beyond a couple of weeks, for when we can return to a little bit of normal. And please, let this be the last time that businesses have to close their doors.
