Hartlepool landlady 'cannot wait to see regulars again' as pub prepares to reopen after lockdown

The Fisherman’s Arms, in Southgate, on Hartlepool’s Headland, will reopen at 7pm on Thursday, September 3, after temporarily calling time on March 20 when bars nationwide closed due to the introduction of emergency coronavirus legislation.

The pub decided against reopening at the start of July, when the Government lifted the ban, to give drinkers the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the then new one-metre social distancing regulations.

Landlady Hazel Whitelock, who is an asthmatic, also wanted time personally to get used to the restrictions after shielding at home since March.

Now she says: “I cannot wait to reopen and see our regulars again.

"I have kept in touch with a couple of them although I haven’t seen most of them since we were forced to close in March.”

The pub, known widely as The Fish, will initially only open from Thursdays-Sundays from 7pm with last entry at 9.30pm and last orders at 10.30pm.

Tables have been spaced out to ensure social distancing is followed – with capacity reduced as a result from 40 to 22 – with customers having to sign a track and trace book on arrival.

Hazel, 57, who took over the pub with partner Glenn Murphy, 62, in 2016, added: “There will be hand gel at the bar and only one person will be allowed to stand at the bar at a time.

"That’s going to be one of the downsides because I used to like to chat to people at the bar.”

The business has been mainly able to survive through a combination of owner Glenn’s job as a health and safety officer and an emergency grant from Hartlepool Borough Council.

Hazel has also praised regulars for supporting the pub’s bottled beer collection and delivery service and thanked town butcher Ben Jobson for delivering orders.

Known for its real ales, The Fish will have two hand pulls on offer at the bar as well as bottled real ale.

Hazel also plans to talk to regulars about when to restart the popular Sunday night quizzes.

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