On 23 Dec 2011 at 7:41pm Tony@TheSnowdrop wrote:
We have decided to close at 7pm on Christmas Eve because we do not have enough staff to ensure a safe and properly supervised environment given the number of people expected.
It is sad to break with a Lewes tradition but the number of young people coming to the Snowdrop on Christmas Eve has increased year on year to the extent that we no longer feel we can accommodate all those who want to attend. Rather than appoint door staff on the evening to turn people away when we've reached our capacity we hope that a taking a year out will encourage people to make other arrangements in future and reduce numbers to a manageable level.
Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Healthy, Peaceful & Prosperous New Year.
Regards
Tony & Dominic
The Snowdrop Inn
On 24 Dec 2011 at 10:53am bazm wrote:
Have a great Xmas - I'll try the Spotted Dog then!! You guys really know how to run pubs and thanks for coming to Lewes. Cheers!!
On 24 Dec 2011 at 4:07pm bastian wrote:
there are people looking for jobs here you know...can't or won't lay on staff are two different things. It is indeed a shame to break with tradition.The Mays always managed it years ago.
enjoy your yuletide
On 24 Dec 2011 at 4:13pm jrsussex wrote:
Have to comment on this one. Publicans are among the very few businesses that operate every day of the year, with the management and staff generally working much far longer hours than most trade or professsional people. That is in order to earn a living, which has been particularly difficult for publicans throughout the last 3/4yrs. Yes it is their choice and most, as I did for many years, love running a pub. I never opened on Christmas day, that gave me and my family and my staff the opportunity to enjoy Christmas day with our families. I used to take abuse every year from a minority of idiot customers demanding that I open and always advising me that I was running a PUBLIC HOUSE and by law I must open, stuff and nonsence of course.
Tony has given a perfectly acceptable reason for having to close his premises, lack of staff and your (the public's) safety. I admire him, he would certainly like the income he will inevitable lose but feels for the reasons stated he has no other choice than to close. Have a nice evening Tony, Can't help wondering when you last had a Xmas Eve off?
On 24 Dec 2011 at 5:08pm padster wrote:
we are lucky to have it 364 days year. best pub in lewes, have a nice christmas evening off.....
there are other pubs in lewes,
no one died!
On 24 Dec 2011 at 5:30pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
I think the Snowy staff deserve a night off. They run a damn good pub, 364 days a year.
Merry Christmas to all of them and I look forward to many more enjoyable visits next year.
On 24 Dec 2011 at 6:13pm Matt Kent wrote:
To Tony and Dominic,
May the cracking beers (and beer festivals), food, gigs and toading continue throughout 2012 and beyond. The Snowdrop (and very many others) is a pub Lewes should be totally proud of. Cheers!
On 27 Dec 2011 at 9:20am mickyboy wrote:
as anyone who has lived in holland or elsewhere on the continent most bars are shut for one or two days a week, its not unusual for a bar to be shut, here in the uk the tradition is open every day but with many non christian residents it is now possible to shop and get a haircut, kebab or burger on christmas day, things have changed, not always for the better, but a pub shut on xmas eve, well what ever the reason thats a new one on me,
On 27 Dec 2011 at 6:25pm bastian wrote:
I don't want to be hard on the lads but christmas day i understand..but the eve is a normal working day..isn't it?
On 27 Dec 2011 at 6:30pm Cliffe Hanger wrote:
Although I am not a publican, I would imagine that Christmas Eve is anything but "a normal working day". With a little imagination, you may be able to see that too Bastian.
On 27 Dec 2011 at 6:58pm Decent Citizen wrote:
Tony and Dom run a fantastic pub.They are constantly busy due to the great food,etc, so, I quite understand why they curtailed the amount of people attending. Safety,the demands on their staff,etc. Otherwise we would be hearing moans of waiting too long to be served etc. Glad to see common sense prevailed here. To Dom and Tony,Happy New Year.xx
On 29 Dec 2011 at 12:21am Tony@TheSnowdrop wrote:
Thanks for all the messages of support! Hope all forum posters & readers have a wonderful 2012!
On 30 Dec 2011 at 12:40pm LocalYokel wrote:
Hi Tony & Dom, brilliant brilliant brilliant pub, you have turned it around since you have been here. When I lived in South London, most of the pubs around me were ticket only on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, just a thought.
Trust that you had a wonderful Crimble, Cheers for now.