Steady start despite 'morons' refusing to adhere to coronavirus guidelines: Northampton bar NB's first week as a pub

Business at Northampton nightclub-turned-pub NB's has been steady since reopening but there have been issues with some customers unwilling to comply with coronavirus guidelines.

Owner Marc Sawer said they are adhering to all social distancing and hygienic requirements but a minority of people have been reluctant to reciprocate because other pubs are not as strict.

"It's difficult to get the public to behave themselves, some people comply and some are complete and utter morons.

"The hardest thing we're finding is we're adhereing to the guidelines, taking temperatures and all of that, but we're finding other venues aren't bothering.

"So people say, 'Well they're doing it there,' but they've got to do it here - that's the hardest battle we've faced."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that nightclubs, along with soft play areas, dance halls and sexual entertainment venues, must remain closed on July 17.

Marc said he agreed with the decision as social distancing would simply be very hard to police on a dancefloor with people drinking alcohol.

Instead NB's reopened as a pub on Wednesday (July 29) with no dancefloors, a fraction of the number of revellers, no live music initially and a booking system for tables - plus PPE and track and trace.

Marc said the Bridge Street bar had a bit of a slow start and takings are much less compared to when it was a nightclub but he is trying to stay positive.

"It's a bit strange as the atmosphere is nowhere near the same as we can't have music loud but people are booking tables," he said

Concerns about potentially being closed down again are also a worry for Marc and his team, who also run King Billy Rock Bar and The Church Restaurant.

But the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has gone down well so far and they are focused on continuing as well as they can until nightclubs are allowed again.

However getting customers to listen to and abide by the guidelines has been a tricky matter for the team who want to stick to the rules but also do not want to lose customers.

Marc said: "There are a lot of rules and regulations and people don't like it but other than that we've got to suck it up and see how we go this weekend."