In the latest issue of MA – the title’s second digital-only issue in more than 225 years of circulation – we take a closer look at the impact of the Covid-19 shutdown on parliament’s legislative pipeline and what delays to the likes of the spring consultation on protect duty and the ban on plastic straws could mean for pubs.
In addition, we look at how pubs and bars in countries both across Europe and further afield are planning to reopen under social distancing measures – with potential solutions including city-wide open-air cafes, opening venues at reduced capacities and having guests sign health declarations on the door.
We also hear from Piers Baker – owner and manager of the Sun Inn in Dedham on Essex/Suffolk border for more than 17 years – about his time in lockdown, and discuss the impact of Covid-19 with former pubs code adjudicator Paul Newby, Admiral Taverns’ Chris Jowsey and star chef and licensee Tom Kerridge.
We also look ahead to the digital MA500 conference on 14 May and discuss how sport pubs can keep fans engaged despite the closure of sites and a global sporting time-out with experts from venue marketing and live sports streaming platform, Screach, and Magnify Marketing.
Speakeasy, Spanish Flu and the on-trade’s medical records
We also look back at Top 50 Cocktail Bars’ first ever online, invite only, speakeasy session featuring partner bar Kuckoo in Cheshire, which saw more than 30 guests treated to a tailored cocktail making session and Q&A from the comfort of their own home.
Additionally, with the help of some of the sector’s stalwarts, MA reflects on how pubs have dealt with pandemics of the past and delve through the on-trade’s medical records to see the role pubs have played in Britain’s illustrious history of fighting illness.
What’s more, we take a closer look at staff mental health welfare during lockdown, how chefs and publicans alike are serving their communities and speak to social media experts for insight into how operators can strike the right tone in their communications with customers over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Where to read the 11 May issue?
“We will be changing our magazine to an e-reader version and producing one issue per month during this pandemic. Because many of our readers’ premises are closed, they are not going to receive the printed copy,” MA publisher Chris Lowe explained.
“This was a big decision, of course. However, our biggest reason for this short-term (we hope) change is that we want to make our content as widely available to as many businesses in hospitality as possible. And, of course, an e-reader version of our magazine enables us to do just this efficiently.
“So we will, with immediate effect, make all issues, for the duration of lockdown available on e-readers to all – for free.”
Click here to read our 11 May issue.
