Getting Back To Normal

After a difficult last couple of years with the pandemic, the Case is attempting to get back to normal. We were first impacted back in early 2020 when we started having to put planned events on hold, but this was quickly followed by a full scale lock-down on 20th March 2020. Since then there have been many phases requiring different modes of operations, for example: off sales only, table service in the garden and then the gradual re-opening of the pub itself and the re-introduction of events. In between times there have been more lock-downs and frequent revisions of the rules that the hospitality sector has had to comply with. You can review the history of the changing situation by looking back through our old News pages, but some of the key posts tracking the ups and downs of the pandemic restrictions are The Case and Covid-19, Covid: Second Wave Lockdown, Case to Open Up Inside: 21st May 2021 and Jan 2022: Case Events On Hold.

But it’s now all change at the Case! The committee and the volunteers have agreed that now is the time for our bar screens to be removed (happening 25th May 2022). This decision has taken us a long time as we wanted to ensure that our volunteers and customers continued to feel safe when visiting us, even when Covid numbers were dropping. We have also removed the large ‘cathedral’ marquee that has been outside the front of the pub for the last year and a half. The pub is now much more visible and inviting from the road. In addition to these changes, under 18’s are now welcome in the bar and beer mats are coming back! However, in line with many other venues we are keeping the hand sanitising stations for a little longer and we hope to return the bar stools later in the summer.

The pub without the big tent – photo taken 19th May 2022

As the evenings grow lighter and the weather gets warmer we would also like to be able to offer longer opening hours and perhaps some weekday lunchtimes too. This can only be achieved if we have enough volunteers. Our current volunteers have tirelessly seen us through the Covid pandemic and it would be great if we had a few more to allow us to do some extra hours. If you would like to find out more about volunteering (not just behind the bar) please ask for an application form. You will be given full training and support. It’s a great way to meet new people and to learn new skills.

UPDATE 25/5/22: The bar screens have now been removed –

No more screens at the bar – photo taken 25th May 2022