Daniel Cook says it香蕉视频直播檚 a happy ending for him and his staff, now that his Surrey-area pub is set to reopen after an insurance-costs crisis nearly forced the place to close forever.
The doors to his will reopen at noon Wednesday (June 24) following a nerve-racking three months of COVID-related shutdown.
The mid-spring timing of a liability-insurance renewal was also cause for stress for him and his bar staff.
香蕉视频直播淪ome of the insurance companies wanted 10 times what my rate was last year,香蕉视频直播� said Cook, who has operated Donegal香蕉视频直播檚 for close to 14 years.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not just us, it香蕉视频直播檚 happening to other bar owners,香蕉视频直播� Cook added. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 just one more thing, because we香蕉视频直播檝e been closed for several months, we香蕉视频直播檙e coming back in a down market at half capacity because of physical distancing, and we won香蕉视频直播檛 be doing near the volume we were doing before. Our insurance rates were already high, and now it香蕉视频直播檚 going up significantly. It香蕉视频直播檚 a double whammy.香蕉视频直播�
Cook has chronicled his plight in , including some good news on Friday (June 19): A reasonable insurance rate had been secured for the bar to reopen.
香蕉视频直播淢y new rate is triple last year香蕉视频直播檚,香蕉视频直播� Cook told the Now-Leader. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 going to be painful but it was literally the only other option I had, so it was that or close.香蕉视频直播�
An earlier quote was for $70,000, Cook said, with a $10,000 deductible for a claim.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e heard of one bar owner getting a quote of $100,000,香蕉视频直播� Cook said, 香蕉视频直播渁nd another, the rate went from $20,000 to $60,000 for a year.
香蕉视频直播淚t was all a shock to me, how much insurance costs had risen,香蕉视频直播� he added. 香蕉视频直播淚t used to be a soft market with lots of vendors, lots of competition for insurance business, but then in 2018 the market shifted and they were getting tight about who they were looking at. There香蕉视频直播檚 a much smaller market for insurance companies that will even touch hospitality, and most of them won香蕉视频直播檛 do bars and pubs. It香蕉视频直播檚 a huge issue, and it started becoming an issue even before COVID.香蕉视频直播�
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Meantime, some Donegal香蕉视频直播檚 regulars launched an to help Cook pay mounting bills.
香蕉视频直播淒onegal香蕉视频直播檚 has given so much to this community, and to live music, we wanted to try to help them to be able to reopen, and continue that work,香蕉视频直播� says .
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During the pandemic-related shutdown since mid-March, Cook went to work on renovations at Donegal香蕉视频直播檚, including polishing brass, new paint, lighting upgrades and some new washroom stalls.
For now, the pub operates with limited hours and plans to reintroduce live music at a later date.
香蕉视频直播淲e will be working with local health officers, our staff, and some trusted musicians to formulate a plan, and to make sure that when we do (bring back live music), we can ensure that it is done right,香蕉视频直播� .
香蕉视频直播淵es, I香蕉视频直播檓 anxious to start getting those sales up, it香蕉视频直播檚 been three months of no income, and the natural inclination is to ramp up business as fast as we can,香蕉视频直播� Cook added. 香蕉视频直播淏ut I believe that to be shortsighted, and potentially harmful. We will not be responsible for taking risks that could cause an outbreak just to make a few bucks; the lives of our community mean more than that, we will find a way to do it better.香蕉视频直播�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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