Calderdale’s pubs join forces to ask for help from government

More than 20 Calderdale bar and hospitality businesses have backed the call from Michael Ainsworth, from the Grayston Unity.

In a letter to Calderdale Council’s chief executive Robin Tuddenham, he has plefor Mr Tuddenham to use the discretion that is to be granted to councils with regards to the government’s Top Up Business Grant Scheme and make hospitality related businesses in Calderdale a priority for additional help.

But Mr Ainsworth has since been told by the Council that the small print precludes the government funding being directed towards the local hospitality trade.

“This intensifies the need to try and get specific government help for the sector,” he told the Courier.

“From talking to local hospitality businesses I think there’s a concern that the government has been saying pubs will be able to re-open in July.

“For me and everyone else who put their name to that letter, it shows a bit of a lack of understanding of the industry.”None of us think it can work trying to operate a cafe, a bar or a restaurant with social distancing at two metres. It’s just not feasible.

“If we’re social distancing on a Friday night but there’s alcohol involved, people lose their inhibitions and we’re trying to tell them they have to keep within two metres, or somebody who hasn’t had a drink gets put out that people are encroaching on their space. It’d be so hard to do practically, and financially.

“Nobody wants to go out for a meal and you’re one of three tables in a restaurant, or you go for a coffee and there’s no-one else there.

“People want to go out for a leisure experience, but that’s not about being the only ones there or not having proper conversations because everybody’s two metres apart.

“So how are we going to survive as an industry? It’s so vital because of how many people it employs.

“I understand lots of industries could say they’re in need, but we were the first to go into lockdown and we’re going to be the last to come out.

“A key element to getting people spending money again is for them to come out and spend in a restaurant, a cafe, a bar or a live music venue.

“If we don’t have some kind of additional help, we’re not going to be here.

“I know some businesses have had £10,000 or £25,000, but some businesses haven’t had any help if they’re not paying rates directly.

“A lot of businesses have been helped, but the way it was administered with pretty much no criteria, I could give three examples I know of businesses in Calderdale who’ve had £10,000 for businesses they don’t do anything with.
“The money went everywhere, but we’re talking about targeted help now.

“It’s not just a case of re-opening and everything’s going to be fine, it’s going to take a huge amount of time for it to get back to anything like how it was.

“With some targeted help, something around landlords as well, would help.

“There’s no other borough I’d rather be in because of the potential of what we could do.

“The borough was on the up, and it doesn’t have to be the end of it. If we have some assistance, we will still have a leisure and tourism offer.

“When we come out of all this, so many people are saying ‘I can’t wait to go out’ but what if there’s nothing there and everything’s shut?

“It was the best it’s ever been in Calderdale, lots of interesting places and lots to do, so it’d be such a shame if that was to go without some further, targeted support.

“The council can only do so much, and I’m sure they’d say tourism was crucial to the borough trying to bounce back, but it’s down to the government having a better understanding.

“I’ve spoken to Nicky Chance-Thompson about it and we agree that Halifax BID has to have a role in how the town can bounce back, the council has got a role and there’s got be some creative thinking about what the town can do to encourage more people to come, even if it’s just in the summer months, whether that be road closures so businesses can put tables out.”These are crazy times and they need some innovative, creative thinking that’s not governed by ‘we can’t do that’.

“All bets should be off in terms of what we can and can’t consider so it keeps the industry on life support and keeps the bills just about being paid.”But as an industry locally, we need help.

“The industry needs more government help if there’s to be an industry left.”

Paul Mansley, from the Puzzle Hall Inn pub, said: “We are currently experiencing unprecedented circumstances impacting upon all walks of life.

“To single out the hospitality industry as being in need of priority help would on the face of it seem to be self-serving.

“After consideration the directors of the Puzzle Hall Community Pub Ltd did however choose to support Michael’s initiative.

“We did this because we believe that at this time the hospitality industry, in Calderdale specifically, has a significant role to play in the economic recovery and social wellbeing of the borough.

“Not in 60 years have I seen more investment, more good publicity or more optimism in the borough than in recent times and this despite the waning fortunes of town centres generally.

“Heavy industry has now mostly gone and after many years of uncertainty we are, almost by accident, a tourist destination.

“Our popularity is attracting investment, businesses and new residents, all of which puts money into the local economy and enhances the quality of our daily lives.

“If we are to sustain and develop our good fortune, the hospitality sector - the infrastructure which supports tourism - must be protected through these difficult times and encouraged as we recover and embark upon a new normal.

“Life right now might not be easy and the impact on wellbeing is hard, particularly for those losing loved ones and/or their livelihood and many more will be affected in this way as the months progress.

“We have however seen many remarkable examples of communities reaching out and supporting the vulnerable and at risk.

“A very significant element of this support is provided informally through pubs and clubs, evolving to meet the diversities of their own communities.

“They provide places where everyone can feel welcome, be amongst friends and become part of an informal support network.

“We are losing pubs and clubs at a remarkable rate the impact of this upon social care and the mental health services will be profound at this time in particular.

“It is therefore both essential and good economic sense to support the hospitality industry through the lockdown and its adaptation to the requirements of life thereafter.

“After four years closure and extensive refurbishment The Puzzle Hall in Sowerby Bridge has reopened as a community pub.
“This is due entirely to the recognition of its value to its community being recognised with more than £175,000 raised through crowdfunding to purchase and rebuild this historic hostelry, with countless hours contributed by a small army of volunteers to make it happen.

“It is wholly owned by its members and registered as a Community Benefit Society (CBS) and as a not for profit company and as soon as the redevelopment is complete any trading surplus will be invested in the community, doing what traditional pubs have always done prior to the advent of the PubCo.”

The Leader of Calderdale Council, Coun Tim Swift, said: “We know that pubs, like many businesses in the retail and hospitality sector, are facing serious challenges related to COVID-19.
“We’ve been working hard to ensure that the Government grant support has been processed quickly for eligible businesses. Over £53 million has already been issued to almost 5000 small businesses and those in the retail and hospitality sector. Applications for this grant are still open and we encourage businesses to register their interest on our website if they haven’t done so already. We are also continuing to signpost businesses to other Government support schemes that may be relevant to them.
“We’re also aware that not every business has been eligible for this support. We’re therefore in the process of developing a further grant scheme based on recently released Government guidance about the discretionary grants fund, although this funding is limited and is not available to any business who has already received a grant. We will be advertising the criteria and timescales for the local scheme on our website shortly.
“Of course, many business owners will be understandably concerned about an uncertain future and as we move into a period of recovery, we’ll do all we can to offer support to the hospitality sector, which is a vital part of our night time economy.”


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