Last Orders?

Here we are In August 2020, the Lockdown was placed around 23rd March 2020 and for all the bars, night-clubs, bowling alley’s, restaurants and the like it has been the most miserable time ever.

I have spoken to owners and operators who have been close to tears having placed 100’s thousands GBP plus untold hours which have been lost track of! There is now no sign of an end to this as COVID-19 continues to cause chaos, with venues planning to open only to be told the day before NO!

After working in this industry for over 30 years and only selling in 2018 I feel for these operators and owners, I feel the pain for the staff involved all of who treat this industry as more than a ‘Job’, you have to have a special skill set to be an owner/Manager, work a busy venue as security or sales staff it takes a certain skill!, A perseverance, empathy the ability to listen and not judge.

I have said for a while, (Since April) that the entire industry needs to be ‘reset’, that includes Landlord Rent, Business rates, IF this doesn’t happen you will never catch up, you will be worried about ever-mounting debts that due to restrictions – the venue cannot possibly catch up!

Now Mayor Andy Burnham has said, “There is a growing amount of evidence that pubs are one of the main places where this virus spreads.” He further states  “You can’t safely open schools with pubs open as well, with that level of performance.” in relation to Track and Trace – You can clearly see that the ‘BLAME the bars’ rhetoric is starting to build. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-53714874

WHAT CAN YOU DO AS AN OWNER /OPERATOR

You HAVE to follow the guidelines, no matter how you feel about them whether it’s ‘Social distancing’, ‘Track and Trace’, ‘Table service App’ IF it’s in the rules/guidelines you leave yourself wide open for further kicks in the (You know where) if you don’t!

I have spoken to numerous venues and operators and listened to the reasons they don’t believe they ‘need’ to follow the ‘Guidelines’, from ‘lack of interaction with customers and staff’, ‘The are only guidelines’, ‘our customers are only young and less vulnerable’ This will NOT work when the crap hits the fan and they trace an outbreak back to your venue!! They will be on you like a ton of bricks and you will be closed!

HSADD Ltd has three products to help venues stay compliant

MYSMARTBAR provides a Table service developed specifically to help Bars, restaurants, takeaways and venues get back on their feet by charging only 1p per order and £99 setup fee. This includes Track & Trace built-in.

ISITCHECKED Provides a real-time checklist which can be adapted to any scenario and can be used for Track & Trace independently, this keeps a full record of all the things you are doing to remain compliant. When EHO or the Police call there is nothing better than full digital records to defend your venue.

Compliance Management – This is a fully integrated cloud-based Health & Safety package that covers staff training through to Fire risk assessment and maintenance records.

The last word, I have over 30 years at running a busy and ‘difficult’ venue in Liverpool City Centre, there is little that I have not had experience with, dealt with, resolved over that time, IF I can help I will, the call and my time will not cost you a penny – but could save you thousands!