Missing going to the Pub!
Lockdown Blues
The press endlessly report on things that have a negative effect on people during lockdown. Of course there are the obvious things like children missing school, not visiting relatives for months on end, working from home, not being able to travel and the list goes on but we have to grin and bare it as there are important reasons behind the restrictions.
In the brewing industry we are on the front line of business' affected in the hospitality sector. Pubs, Clubs, Bars and Restaurants being closed, opened with restrictions, closed again, open with more restrictions over Christmas and then closed indefinitely with the knowledge that they are likely to be the last business’ to have restrictions lifted. At Flack Manor the vast majority of our trade is supplying our hospitality industry customers with quality cask conditioned beer to be enjoyed by their customers in their business'. We share the pain of the hospitality industry but again we have to grin and bare it as there are important reasons behind the restrictions.
What is not talked about is the impact on pub customers. Conventional wisdom would lead us to think that there is no impact, we can still buy beer and drink it at home. Those of us that have worked in and around pubs know that people go to pubs mostly for social interaction, the drinking (especially beer) just acts as a social lubricant. The Great British pub is an institution that is unique to the UK and will always survive whatever is thrown at it because of its customers. Drinking at home will continue as normal but it does not replace the trip to the pub. We miss the banter, the wit of the publican and knowing people from all walks of life that we wouldn't see anywhere other than the pub. We long for the people watching and the overhearing of beer fuelled conversations. So the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on pub customers may not be as severe as it is for many groups but there is an impact and pub customers are also members of those many other groups.
At Flack Manor we will continue to provide our Click & Collect and Local Delivery service during lockdown. We are also trying to provide special offers to make drinking at home a bit more like being at the pub. We continue with the development of our Tap Room which we hope to have ready for a time when restrictions are lifted, we look forward to having a beer together then.
Our first offer is the Weekend Draught Beer Pack which comes with a meet the brewer session - via Zoom on Friday 29th January at 6.45pm. Add a case of 12 Cans to you cart with this pack and receive a fantastic additional discount.