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A pint with Clive Watson: The City Pub Group’s chairman discusses the lockdown

The City Pub Group’s executive chairman Clive Watson spoke to the Evening Standard about how Covid-19 disruption has impacted the business, and being encouraged by recent booking levels since the lockdown eased. The interview took place at the Cock & Bottle in Notting Hill, and Watson had a Birra Moretti beer.

What has the hardest part of the Covid-19 lockdown been?

I think it was the unknown. I think it was going into totally unknown territory.

I’ve traded through recessions, you sort of know that eventually in a recession you are going to come out of it- you don’t know how long it is going to last but you do know that you are going to come out of it eventually because that’s the trade cycle. But this is a complete unknown situation where you just didn’t know how long its going to last and what was going to happen as you came out. Was it going to be complete devastation or partial devastation? Or just something that we’ll talk about in a few years time and say do you remember Covid-19 in 2020? It was the fear of the unknown.

What are some of the changes you have implemented across the estate?

We have an app so people can order from their tables, and people can order takeaways, drink or food. That was probably something that was ultimately always going to happen but Covid has speeded up that process.

We are making sure the pubs are super clean, we are using wooden cutlery and having food in recyclable boxes (they can be recycled and used instead of tableware that although washed, has been used by others previously). It’s not just the safety of customers, but also for staff.

What are booking trends looking like?

We have been encouraged by bookings and takeaways [as at last weekend]. Pubs never really did takeaways before, and I think pubs can go into that market more now. So people are still coming to the pub but have the choice if they want to come in or get takeaway.

How confident are you feeling about the future of British pubs and why?

One third of the customers think social distancing is too restrictive, one third think it’s about right but are confused and the other third think social distancing is too relaxed and won’t rush back so this is a really challenging time [for the industry].

I think if the life support (assistance from the government including the business rates suspension) is withdrawn that will accelerate a lot of pub closures [across the sector], and restaurants and coffee shops as well.

If the government can provide some continuing support, and not just cut off the life support, it will enable businesses to get through this, and when things get back to more normality, help them to thrive again.

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