Daniel Cook says it91裸聊视频檚 a happy ending for him and his staff, now that his Surrey-area pub is set to reopen after an insurance-costs crisis nearly forced the place to close forever.
The doors to his will reopen at noon Wednesday (June 24) following a nerve-racking three months of COVID-related shutdown.
The mid-spring timing of a liability-insurance renewal was also cause for stress for him and his bar staff.
91裸聊视频淪ome of the insurance companies wanted 10 times what my rate was last year,91裸聊视频� said Cook, who has operated Donegal91裸聊视频檚 for close to 14 years.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just us, it91裸聊视频檚 happening to other bar owners,91裸聊视频� Cook added. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 just one more thing, because we91裸聊视频檝e been closed for several months, we91裸聊视频檙e coming back in a down market at half capacity because of physical distancing, and we won91裸聊视频檛 be doing near the volume we were doing before. Our insurance rates were already high, and now it91裸聊视频檚 going up significantly. It91裸聊视频檚 a double whammy.91裸聊视频�
Cook has chronicled his plight in , including some good news on Friday (June 19): A reasonable insurance rate had been secured for the bar to reopen.
91裸聊视频淢y new rate is triple last year91裸聊视频檚,91裸聊视频� Cook told the Now-Leader. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be painful but it was literally the only other option I had, so it was that or close.91裸聊视频�
An earlier quote was for $70,000, Cook said, with a $10,000 deductible for a claim.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e heard of one bar owner getting a quote of $100,000,91裸聊视频� Cook said, 91裸聊视频渁nd another, the rate went from $20,000 to $60,000 for a year.
91裸聊视频淚t was all a shock to me, how much insurance costs had risen,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淚t used to be a soft market with lots of vendors, lots of competition for insurance business, but then in 2018 the market shifted and they were getting tight about who they were looking at. There91裸聊视频檚 a much smaller market for insurance companies that will even touch hospitality, and most of them won91裸聊视频檛 do bars and pubs. It91裸聊视频檚 a huge issue, and it started becoming an issue even before COVID.91裸聊视频�
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Meantime, some Donegal91裸聊视频檚 regulars launched an to help Cook pay mounting bills.
91裸聊视频淒onegal91裸聊视频檚 has given so much to this community, and to live music, we wanted to try to help them to be able to reopen, and continue that work,91裸聊视频� says .
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During the pandemic-related shutdown since mid-March, Cook went to work on renovations at Donegal91裸聊视频檚, including polishing brass, new paint, lighting upgrades and some new washroom stalls.
For now, the pub operates with limited hours and plans to reintroduce live music at a later date.
91裸聊视频淲e will be working with local health officers, our staff, and some trusted musicians to formulate a plan, and to make sure that when we do (bring back live music), we can ensure that it is done right,91裸聊视频� .
91裸聊视频淵es, I91裸聊视频檓 anxious to start getting those sales up, it91裸聊视频檚 been three months of no income, and the natural inclination is to ramp up business as fast as we can,91裸聊视频� Cook added. 91裸聊视频淏ut I believe that to be shortsighted, and potentially harmful. We will not be responsible for taking risks that could cause an outbreak just to make a few bucks; the lives of our community mean more than that, we will find a way to do it better.91裸聊视频�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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