Daniel Cook says it含羞草研究社檚 a happy ending for him and his staff, now that his Surrey-area pub is set to reopen after an insurance-costs crisis nearly forced the place to close forever.

The doors to his will reopen at noon Wednesday (June 24) following a nerve-racking three months of COVID-related shutdown.

The mid-spring timing of a liability-insurance renewal was also cause for stress for him and his bar staff.

含羞草研究社淪ome of the insurance companies wanted 10 times what my rate was last year,含羞草研究社� said Cook, who has operated Donegal含羞草研究社檚 for close to 14 years.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not just us, it含羞草研究社檚 happening to other bar owners,含羞草研究社� Cook added. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 just one more thing, because we含羞草研究社檝e been closed for several months, we含羞草研究社檙e coming back in a down market at half capacity because of physical distancing, and we won含羞草研究社檛 be doing near the volume we were doing before. Our insurance rates were already high, and now it含羞草研究社檚 going up significantly. It含羞草研究社檚 a double whammy.含羞草研究社�

Cook has chronicled his plight in , including some good news on Friday (June 19): A reasonable insurance rate had been secured for the bar to reopen.

含羞草研究社淢y new rate is triple last year含羞草研究社檚,含羞草研究社� Cook told the Now-Leader. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 going to be painful but it was literally the only other option I had, so it was that or close.含羞草研究社�

An earlier quote was for $70,000, Cook said, with a $10,000 deductible for a claim.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e heard of one bar owner getting a quote of $100,000,含羞草研究社� Cook said, 含羞草研究社渁nd another, the rate went from $20,000 to $60,000 for a year.

含羞草研究社淚t was all a shock to me, how much insurance costs had risen,含羞草研究社� he added. 含羞草研究社淚t used to be a soft market with lots of vendors, lots of competition for insurance business, but then in 2018 the market shifted and they were getting tight about who they were looking at. There含羞草研究社檚 a much smaller market for insurance companies that will even touch hospitality, and most of them won含羞草研究社檛 do bars and pubs. It含羞草研究社檚 a huge issue, and it started becoming an issue even before COVID.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社� RELATED STORY: .

Meantime, some Donegal含羞草研究社檚 regulars launched an to help Cook pay mounting bills.

含羞草研究社淒onegal含羞草研究社檚 has given so much to this community, and to live music, we wanted to try to help them to be able to reopen, and continue that work,含羞草研究社� says .

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During the pandemic-related shutdown since mid-March, Cook went to work on renovations at Donegal含羞草研究社檚, including polishing brass, new paint, lighting upgrades and some new washroom stalls.

For now, the pub operates with limited hours and plans to reintroduce live music at a later date.

含羞草研究社淲e will be working with local health officers, our staff, and some trusted musicians to formulate a plan, and to make sure that when we do (bring back live music), we can ensure that it is done right,含羞草研究社� .

含羞草研究社淵es, I含羞草研究社檓 anxious to start getting those sales up, it含羞草研究社檚 been three months of no income, and the natural inclination is to ramp up business as fast as we can,含羞草研究社� Cook added. 含羞草研究社淏ut I believe that to be shortsighted, and potentially harmful. We will not be responsible for taking risks that could cause an outbreak just to make a few bucks; the lives of our community mean more than that, we will find a way to do it better.含羞草研究社�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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