Taxi Driver Online

There's a wider point to be made about the impact of Covid on the pub industry and its knock-on effect on the trade. And this pub is beside one of the main ranks. But reaction seems a tad over the top for a place the size of Oldham.


Pub closure could mean ‘final nail in the coffin’ for Oldham taxis

https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/1 ... ham-taxis/


Image: Oldham Times

THE permanent closure of a pub in the heart of Oldham could be the “final nail in the coffin” for Oldham taxis.

That is according to Abdul Rehman Khayal, a board member of the National Private Hire Taxi Association and taxi driver in Oldham.

The Hare & Hounds on 16 Yorkshire Street, Oldham, which is located directly next to a central taxi rank, has been photographed boarded up on the day pubs were set to re-open under step three of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Abdul said of the borough’s taxi drivers: “We are totally disappointed.”

Staff at the town centre venue reportedly told taxi drivers at the rank outside that the business was “not viable” and had to close.

According to the website whatpub.com, an online pub guide updated by volunteers at The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) organisation, the Hare & Hounds is “long-term closed apparently due to condition of building, and cost of repairs.”

The Oldham Times has contacted The Hare & Hounds for comment but is yet to receive a response.

Abdul said if the closure were permanent, it could be the “last nail in the coffin” for taxi drivers in Oldham, adding: “We need a viable town centre to make our living”.

In March this year, the Oldham council launched the Discretionary Business Grants for Taxis scheme to help drivers across the borough bearing the brunt of successive lockdowns.

Abdul said the grants were a “help” but did not “compensate” for the damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the devastating impact it has had on passenger numbers.

Abdul is not the only one hit hard by the loss of the pub.

A Facebook post published on The Oldham and NW pubs and clubs scene group on May 13 reads in part: “No more singing having the criac the hare and hounds won’t be back.

“The heart of our town is being ripped apart it really does break my heart.”


Image: Oldham Times/Abdul Rehman Khayal

The post has garnered more than 30 comments.

One person commented: “Very, very sad”.

Another added: “More than likely be another takeaway or restaurant.”

A third said in part of their comment: “Everyone knows what's happening to Oldham but nobody is prepared to fight for the once beautiful town.”

Commenters blamed “high business rates” on the pub’s downfall, as well as the impact of Covid-19.

A fourth person added: “The pubs have been mainly shut for a year this was always going to happen. It's sad.”

For another woman, the pub marked the start of her “pub crawl” in the 1980s.

One pub closing isn't the end of the world.

In fairness our trade has survived, albeit well scarred, as near the end of the world as most of us have ever known. Yet we will recover and in the long term thrive.

What we don't want are more doom mongers .

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IDFIMH

One good thing about Covid is that the pubs are closing earlier, which in turn means an earlier night for drivers

Of course, presumably things will eventually revert to the previous licensing hours

However, couldn't help noticing this from Angus, where pubs have traditionally closed at 1am, but one has been granted an extra hour to help them recover financially from Covid

So if Dundee and Fife any example, other venues will be at a competitive advantage, so will apply for later licences, the whole thing will snowball, and drivers will end up working longer and later for the same income, not to mention knock-on effects like clogging up the ranks

It's only one pub, and it's only one hour, but if Dundee and Fife are any example, then all or most of the pubs will follow suit, and the whole night time economy will just be extended for no overall gain


Forfar’s ‘tight ship’ Bar 10 negotiates route through Angus licensing policy to 2am opening

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/lo ... m-opening/

Licensing chiefs have issued Forfar’s first 2am pub licence in a vote of confidence for the ‘tight ship’ which made the policy-breaking bid. 10 Café Bar applied for the longer opening on Friday and Saturday nights as part of its pandemic recovery plan.

you don't know what your missing


seriously though several more pubs round here have either been closed by the police or are not going to reopen as unviable and it shows even though you can drink inside nobody over the age of 21 is interested only the kids are going out round here

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Things were back to near normal for us last night. We will see what tonight brings. We close at 23.00 on Fridays and at 01.00 on Saturday/Sunday. We don't do the kids and drunks.

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Grandad,