Star Pubs & Bars has developed a re-opening support package for its 240 Scottish pubs ranging from health & safety guidance to easy-to-deliver food menus. The programme includes a free safety point of sale pack for every pub.
Health & safety is a key component of the package, which comes with in-depth guides for every area of a pub as well as a step-by-step risk assessment template. In addition, Star has negotiated preferential rates on Covid-19 safety equipment with Nisbets and on risk assessments that result in ‘Safe to Trade’ certification with Shield Safety.
To help licensees maximise sales despite social distancing restrictions, Star has created an off-the-shelf menu of 22 best-selling dishes that can be delivered by one staff member. Available through Brakes with a special discount, the menu is designed to minimise wastage whilst licensees establish customer demand for food. For those preferring to serve their own menus, the support pack explains how to do this in a safe, profitable way.
Other components of Star’s package are free advice on licensing applications for unlicensed garden space and access to Swifty – a new payment and loyalty app – and relaunch marketing tools.
Says Star Pubs & Bars’ managing director, Lawson Mountstevens, “This is a critical time for licensees. In this period of uncertainty, we want to make it as easy as possible for our licensees to reopen, so we’ve taken a holistic approach that covers the whole of their business. Licensees will have one chance to make an impact when they open their doors again. This package will help them get it right and generate customer loyalty that should benefit their pubs for years to come.
“Licensees have risen to the challenge during the lockdown. Many have taken the opportunity to review and improve their offers and have supported their communities through this crisis, highlighting the valuable role pubs play in society. These are strong foundations which our support aims to build on.”
Says Christine O’Brien, licensee of The Seaglass Inn at Port Seton, “The support we’re getting from Star makes keeping up with a fast-moving situation much easier. We’ve been kept in the loop throughout and are using their guidance at our free trade pub too. Having all the safety measures in place will be key to attracting customers back and Star’s emphasis on health & safety is invaluable. We want to operate to the highest standards so that customers feel confident in our systems.”
The package adds to Star Pubs & Bars’ £2million investment in rent concessions for its licensees in Scotland, part of a £21m UK-wide rent concession scheme. http://www.starpubs.co.uk