How community helped The Alma in Sidcup during Covid

An entertainer is on the way to set up for Sunday afternoon, with dancing, drinking, and a pub full of customers very much on the evening’s menu.

But this victory was hard won, with resilience, patience, and the support of the community as its weaponry and mental wellbeing and financial stability as the casualties.

Where it all began

Ronnie, who has lived in Sidcup since he was four years old, and Mat, a Birmingham boy who moved to London at 18, have both worked in hospitality for over three decades.

Ronnie’s hosting career launched in the West End and has culminated here, in Sidcup. The pair bought The Alma, which was their local for 13 years, two and a half years ago.

The Alma

Ronnie recalled their previous jokes about buying the venue after a few pints: ‘“If this ever comes up for sale, we’ll buy…", never thinking that in a few years’ time, that would materialise.

Come 2018, their banter became reality and they were the proud owners of The Alma.

Their journey from patron to publican meant they were already familiar with the staff and the customers and settled in quickly.

Connor, a 26-year-old bartender and singer was employed a week after Mat and Ronnie took over.

When it all changed

Fast forward to March 2020, and the atmosphere in the pub was entirely different to what Mat and Ronnie had envisioned.

The ‘lively’ local that was a social sanctuary to many closed its doors. ‘Sombre’ is how Ronnie describes the final shift before lockdown, as they rang the bell for what was to be the last time in months.

"It was very shocking," Ronnie reflected.

"Whilst reports of Covid cases were becoming more frequent, we expected to have at least a week or two’s notice about shutting down.

"It was 5.30pm that evening when we found out. We closed at 11.30pm. For good." 

The garden Mat and Ronnie cultivated over lockdown

Mat too, remembered how quickly things changed.

He said: "We had a delivery the day before. We were left with all this stock, around 800 pints. It cost us several thousand."

Despite the double-edged sword of emotional and economic duress, one thing shone through on that final shift: community.

Connor added: "The final shift was very sad but supportive. No one wanted us to close. They understood the situation and sympathised."

Without a moment’s notice

Mat and Ronnie felt neglected and in the dark about when restrictions would lift.

They said: "We had no idea when the lockdown would come to an end. We didn’t think it would last anywhere near as long as it did. It was tough."

Despite Mat having Covid, the pair were grateful that they "had things to do to occupy [themselves]".

For the pub, lockdown was a transformative period; their office was decorated, they had time to focus on their garden, and painting became a regular pastime. They had the ‘end in sight’, even though they couldn’t be sure if or when that would be.

A big cost to small business

"The financial pressure was immense", Ronnie recalled.

"It was great that the government announced they were paying everyone 80% furlough. It was an excellent idea. But what they didn’t announce with the same enthusiasm was that the employer has to pay the National Insurance and the PAYE.

"So we had to pay all that with no income."

The cost of keeping pace with erratic rule changes was high: the screens cost £120 each which need to go round the bar and tables.

Ringing the final bell

The national shortage of sanitiser meant it went up in price. 

Mat and Ronnie described the most recent lockdown as the ‘longest’, ‘toughest’, and ‘most financially challenging’.

To have only opened for two weeks, to then be thrown back into lockdown until April, left them ‘massively out of pocket'.

Despite the financial pressures of the past year, Mat and Ronnie still maintained their philanthropic efforts to support local business and charity.

Having raised £1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society through their weekly meat raffle, they are not only supporting other small businesses, but worthwhile charities too. 

Freedom Day

Cautious optimism was the tone in which the couple discussed Freedom Day.

"It’s too early to say, but I’m confident things will get back to where they should be", said Ronnie.

"Seeing customers up at the bar and mingling again was really refreshing." 

Despite these teething troubles, Ronnie described the progress as ‘uplifting’. He said: "The prospect is good.

From left to right: Ronnie, Connor, Adam, Mat, Lisa, Natalie, Josie, Alex, Nina.

"We’ve been getting people who haven’t been in for years and are visiting because they’ve heard good things or seen pictures.

"It’s exciting seeing all the hard work finally begin to pay off."

Connor, who described the shifts post-Freedom Day as ‘like walking into a time capsule’, said ‘things are back to normal’.

He told us: "The weekends I’ve worked have been packed. It’s nice to see people back at the bar – but takes adjusting to, I almost go to tell them to sit back down!"

‘Community is our ethos’

But, as ever, this positive outcome is only possible thanks to the support of the regulars, the newcomers, and the staff.

"Our job was to make sure both sides of the bar were protected" said Mat, who had to take on the responsibility of not just keeping everyone happy and hydrated, but safe.

"We all had to step up and take on this new duty in scary times. But the staff did a good job - really good - with that.

The pub garden was proudly reopened from April

"They adjusted really well.

"The customers have been so good. They’re what got us through all of this, really. They’re the core of it all."

Connor agreed: "People knew why we were putting rules in place."

"They recognised we weren’t just doing it for the sake of it.

"That really helped things go smoothly."

Mat added: "We’re very much about the community. We’re not a faceless pub, people know me and Ronnie."

Ronnie concurred: "I think the important thing is that we don’t see the pub as a pub, we see it as a home. This is our garden, not just any old pub garden – it’s our garden. And everyone's invited."

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