Pleased to receive Fife Camra award as runner-up in Pub if the Year. Robbie says well done to Jenny for her hard work!
YOUR VILLAGE PUB NEEDS YOU!
An important message from Robbie and Pat.
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Covid Restrictions
Hello from Robbie, Pat and staff at the Albert Tavern. We trust that you have been keeping well over the past 18 months or so through the lockdown and restrictions brought about by the Corona Virus.
As you will be aware the Albert Tavern had to close, together with other hospitality establishments, and with limited outside licensed spaces we were unable to take advantage of drinking outside when others were. However we were able to keep our staff on the payroll by adopting the Furlough scheme and we are pleased that most of them have come back to working shifts once again, albeit at reduced hours to meet demand.
It has not been easy. After having opened when allowed last year and spending thousands of pounds on complying with mitigation rules by installing screens and reducing customer numbers, we were closed at short notice just a few weeks later and had to throw away thousands of pounds worth of stock with no recompense, plus cancelling contracts e.g. WIFI.
We reopened again, when allowed, a few weeks ago with the mitigation screens still in place, Track and Trace, limited customer numbers (10 in the bar and 11 in the lounge) and have kept our stock levels low, just in case we were closed down again Unfortunately we had to bar dogs and snacks to prevent cross contamination.
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Lifting of covid restrictions
Following the First Minister’s statement to the Scottish Parliament on 3rd August 2021 that most Covid restrictions will be lifted on the 9th August 2021 we are making arrangements to have the mitigation screens removed and put into storage. From 9th August the other mitigation measures will be lifted. In line with Government guidelines on social distancing therefore the limit of 10 customers in the bar and 11 customers in the lounge will no longer apply.
Ventilation is a big part in cutting down the spread of all viruses, so, where applicable, the front door will remain open. We also have forced air ventilation in the bar and lounge bringing air in from the outside and distributing it along ducts in both rooms.
Once again snacks will be on sale and well behaved dogs on a short leash will be allowed, but for safety reasons only in the lounge when customers are seated.
We are pleased to announce that following successful negotiations with our suppliers we have been able to maintain the same prices for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as prior to being shut down for Covid reasons.
Discussions on reinstating the WIFI, which will allow card payment, if viable, are ongoing and dependent upon demand and footfall.
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The Future of the Albert as a Village Community Pub.
Due to the restrictions placed on the Albert during lockdown, the mitigation requirements, limited footfall due to numbers of customers allowed in the premises, the turnover has been severely affected, down 66 % on pre-Covid levels. Like all businesses, we need to make a reasonable profit to cover our purchases, pay staff and cover our outgoings or the Albert is not a viable business.
The next few months will be a trying period where we hope to build back customer numbers, reintroduce the Whisky Society, Pie night on Thursdays and the occasional game nights. The upstairs dining room is also available for use as a community venue, subject to conditions (please discuss with Robbie).
So, we need to increase the numbers of customers to keep it viable and preserve it for future villagers to enjoy.
Remember, not many villages still have a pub. We here in Freuchie have an award-winning pub, winning multiple CAMRA awards for cask ales and draught cider.
We look forward to welcoming you back.
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Keep Safe,
Robbie, Pat and the staff
