Boss of Sheffield brewery True North reveals plans for reopening his beer gardens next month

Under the Government’s provisional plans for easing coronavirus restrictions, the city’s pubs and restaurants will be able to trade outdoors from April 12 and will be able to welcome customers inside from May 17.

Kane Yeardley’s firm True North, which runs 12 sites across South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, is preparing to welcome customers back to a number of his establishments from the middle of next month.

“Fortunately I picked a number of my sites because of their location and that they had large outside areas so we will be opening the Forum, Punch Bowl, Broadfield, Riverside, Waggon and Horses, Crown and Anchor, York on weekends, when they come and pick up their takeaways they can have a drink in the garden [in the] Blue Stoops and British Oak,” he said.

Kane confirmed that “some” of True North’s pubs will be open from Monday, April 12, and the rest from Thursday, April 15, “depending on the weather.”

"Last year I invested heavily in my outdoor areas anyway, there will be tweaks with lighting, heating and rain cover to make our guests comfortable and the areas weather proof,” added Kane.

He believes the following stage on the roadmap out of lockdown, which suggests hospitality venues will be permitted to reopen inside with groups of up to six people or two households from May 17, will “double” his beer garden trade.

Looking forward to the summer, when it is hoped all Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted by June 21, Kane said that even a super busy season will not make up for the loss in earnings since the pandemic began.

He said: “It’ll take many people three years working hard to get back to where they were and I hope the public will be very supportive of this. Despite that, it will be a great summer of people wanting to get back out and see their friends and families and celebrate everything they missed. Also people love the pub and can’t wait to get back.”

Kane continued: “I think people will surprised at how it’s been tough but Sheffield folk are pretty resilient and will find a way to fund opening again but we all need a lot of support in the next six months as a lot of small businesses have taken on a lot debt and are on the edge. Think pub, not neighbour’s bar in back garden if you want your local pub to be here next year.”

He also hopes to book tribute bands to entertain punters over the summer season.

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