Cat & Wickets pubs the Tap & Run in Upper Broughton, Nottinghamshire, and the Three Crowns in Wymeswold, Leicestershire, have formed a successful post-lockdown partnership according to figures released by the company today (Wednesday 22 July), operating at 84% of the same period in 2019.
"When we re-opened, I was projecting for around 50% of normal so to have achieved the level of trade we have is really pleasing and humbling and we want to thank our customers, some of whom have been several times," director Harry Gurney said of the two-strong pub company’s post-lockdown innings."
These figures have been achieved despite both of the Company’s pubs removing several tables and initially being closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Fresh from a match winning performance for England in the second test match versus the West Indies at Old Trafford, Cat & Wickets co-founder Stuart Broad added: "When we re-opened, we placed all of our emphasis on making sure both sites were safe for customers and employees.
“We are delighted to find that our customers have felt the experience has been both high in quality but also safe and responsible".
According to the latest data from Coffer Peach Business Tracker pubs that were open during the week beginning Monday 6 July saw sales down by 39.3% on average versus the same week in 2019, while bars were 42.9% down.
Pubs offer escapism
Speaking to The Morning Advertiser (MA) in August 2019, Broad explained that he finds valuable escapism in the communal and family aspect of eating out and trips to the pub – sentiment which will resonate with pub goers nearly a year later with sites in England having closed for 105 days between 20 March and 4 July due to Covid-19.
“For me, certainly in the modern world, it’s time with your family without too much pressure of mobile phones,” Broad told MA.
“When I was a kid we would always have dinner as a family at the dinner table – we’d never eat with food on our laps in front of the telly, so conversation was always a huge part of our family growing up.
“The older you get, it’s very easy if you live alone to bang the telly on and never have a conversation with mates. I’ve always eaten out at pubs and gone to meet mates in pubs because you don’t have the distractions of mobile phones and you can actually just have a chat and play board games or whatever. It’s why I like golf as well – it’s time away from the pressures of life for me.
“Maybe the pub trade is due a bit of a rise in fortune in the fact people might say ‘I’m going to the pub for an hour, without my phone, I’m going to sit and talk to my mates.’
