A HAMPSHIRE pub owner has said the industry will 'never be the same again' following the Covid pandemic.

Annmarie McCarthy has been running the Swan Inn, at Barton Stacey, for more than two years.

She took over at the start of the second lockdown in 2020, and has found trade to be 'hit and miss'.

The pub is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as Annmarie said the footfall isn't high enough to justify opening. In fact, the cost of heating and lighting the pub means it could be more expensive to open.

Andover Advertiser:

Annmarie, 66, said: “I'm paying £1,000 a month for electricity. When I moved in, it was £800. Pubs will never be the same again. People have different habits now, they are spending more time at home. 

“There isn't the footfall to open on Mondays and Tuesdays. The only significant trade is from Friday to Sunday. It's really sad to see pubs closing.”

To try and get more people to visit the pub, Annmarie has organised a wide range of events throughout the week. These have ranged from karaoke night, to plant and vegetable exchanges. There has also been a baby clothes exchange.

Andover Advertiser:

Annmarie said: “I keep trying to organise things. One thing I never thought I would do is consider organising bingo. The fact is that it costs more to open up. But I have to open as it supports the village. 

“It used to be possible to open 12 hours a day, now that would be impossible. These are unprecedented times. We need to preserve pubs, they are at the heart of English life.

“The government helped us with grants and with loans we can't pay back but at the time this was a lifeline but now we are being ignored and going bust.

“We need support now and continued support moving forward we need our VAT and business rates adjusted to give us a fighting chance.

“Little villages like us need also the support and custom of the surrounding area to save the little shops and village pubs because once they are gone they are gone for good and you are left with a church and a school, with a very limited bus service.”

Andover Advertiser:

Annmarie added that Christmas and New Year were a success, as the pub was open on Christmas morning. It was also the first Christmas at the pub that wasn't impacted by Covid restrictions.

On February 11, the pub is hosting a karaoke night. It also has regular quiz nights and open mic events.

For more details about the pub and its future events, visit swaninnbartonstacey.co.uk.