Dingwall Mallard pub boss touched by local reaction to business's coronavirus plight
A PUB landlord at one of the best-known watering holes in Ross-shire said this week he was touched by the support of locals after he voiced concerns the bar may not survive the coronavirus crisis.
And while The Mallard's Sean Kennedy retains grave concerns about the post-lockdown future of the Dingwall pub, he said the show of support – including the offer of a crowdfunding drive – had provided a morale boost.
As well as being a popular local haunt, The Mallard – placed right next to the county town's train station and a couple of minutes' walk from Ross County Football Club's stadium – is well known to travelling supporters and regular rail users.
Mr Kennedy last week revealed fears for the future given the rent that could be racked up while the doors are closed and the logistics _ and economics – of post-lockdown social distancing.
Pub owners Greene King have responded by offering a 90 per cent discount on rent from June 11 , which will continue until four weeks after reopening. That will be combined with further discounts on beer that could help set the pub back on the tracks to profitability.
The experienced landlord though remains deeply concerned about squeezing a profit out of a business that could lose more than half its custom due to social distancing rules.
While he acknowledged the rent and discount incentives will help, he believes they should have been in place much earlier.
He said: “My big thing is that it could close – it is an absolute possibility. I have even had some of the young ones offer to start Go Fund Me pages and things like that which has really touched me but I couldn’t ask anyone to do anything like that.”
He said: “There has been a lot of people coming forward and offering support and I really want to thank them for the kind things they have said but my thing is that because of what the governments have given us, we can look after the staff, we are alright now, there is no worry now – it is the going forward that causes me concern.”
Related: Dingwall landlord fears watering hole may not re-open after coronavirus lockdown