Landlord took over The Crown pub in Uppingham during lockdown
Owning a business for the first time will always be a challenge.
But Laura Totten, who took over The Crown in Uppingham during the first lockdown, has already had to overcome many hurdles while trying to learn the ropes.
Last week Laura battled between her head and heart whether to keep the pub in High Street open throughout the Christmas period.
“We’ve opened and quickly realised it’s not viable in tier 2 and will be closed unless something magical happens and we move into tier 1,” said Laura.
“It’s more single households than anything else. We are a wet-led pub and the food was growing steadily since I took over but realistically without those post-work drinks where regulars come in with friends and without the larger groups coming in, the funds are not there."
Due to the small size of the kitchen, even if the pub is at a 30 per cent capacity Laura and the team can’t take any more food orders.
Previously in lockdown the pub offered a takeaway service but that has also had to stop because it was running at a loss.
“Rather than worrying about trying to survive in terms of the next day I’m going to make my own plans and stop waiting for the Government to plan the road map - I’m going to make my own road map,” said Laura.
The 44 year-old has also had to battle financial struggles as she is not eligible for many of the Government loans.
“I was due to take over at the end of March, the week before lockdown, but the existing business owner wasn’t able to meet and I missed the eligibility for the first grants.
“They were unfortunately awarded to her even though she gave notice in October and had no intention of opening the business.
“Until the last lockdown there was not a penny of support.”
Once able to open in July, Laura spent time getting to know her customers.
She said: “The regulars have been coming for longer than I have been alive but they came to understand they couldn’t sit at the bar or wander around.
“But [in tier 2] they aren’t coming in as they don’t come for a meal and a drink, they come to see friends.
“For some of them I know it’s the only thing they do.
“In lockdown they met at bus stops because they had nowhere else to go.”
Laura has received help from Everard’s, which owns the pub, and admitted she couldn’t have got through it without them.
She believes the experience in 2020 will make businesses in the area stronger as people will value them more.