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From the Dover Mercury, 22 June 2022. By Sam Williams.
Bar cuts opening days and staff hours due to town works.
A business owner says he has been forced to reduce his opening times and
cut back staff hours due to ongoing works at Market Square.
Carl Ambrose says the renovation scheme in the town centre is making
things ‘very difficult’ for the team at Rhino & Bull’s, which has seen
fewer customers through the doors in recent months.
He has now cut back his opening days as a result, with the venue only
opening on Friday and Saturdays from 11am to lam for the next six weeks.
Mr Ambrose, a former firefighter, said: “You can only imagine the
frustration for businesses in Market Square.
“We only opened Rhino & Bull’s three months before Covid hit.
“We had two bouts of lockdowns and we were doing well after. But now
this has turned it upside down again.
“The council could have carried out the work during Covid when
everything was shut - that would have made more sense.
“The timing to me is ridiculous.”
Mr Ambrose, 47, fears tourists coming off boats at the harbour will be
put off walking into town by the works.
He said: “They will walk under the subway and it looks like downtown
Beirut.
“If you’re on holiday and you saw a building site in front of you, you
would avoid it.”
When work started last year, Mr Ambrose, from Dover, reduced the opening
of the bar from seven days a week to four days, from Thursday to Sunday.
But having now reduced to just two days a week, it means his staff’s
working hours have also been cut.
He adds: “I’m sure it will look good in the end, but the timing has not
been good.”
Taking to Facebook, Mr Ambrose posted: “Unfortunately, due to
circumstances out of our control business has become very difficult with
the current building works happening outside and for at least the next six weeks.
“As such, we are only going to be open on Friday and Saturdays 11-lam
for this time.
“While it should be good when completed and we hope it brings a new vibe
to the town, it’s proving very difficult with it being so close to our front door!
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to any of our customers!” |
