Letchworth’s Arena Tavern pub has been given a new lease of life during lockdown, and has praised its “amazing customers” for adapting to the new social distancing measures.
Landlady Savannah Joyce reopened on July 4, and has thanked her customers for making the smooth transition after 14 weeks of closure.
Savannah took over as landlady of The Arena Tavern last year after her dad, Bob Bickerdike, suddenly passed away after serving as landlord since 1991.
She has, after working at the pub for 12 years, “loved the challenge” – but says it has been a baptism of fire with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather than resting on her laurels, Savannah and her staff Hannah-May and Kieran have used the time since lockdown to give the pub a new lease of life, refurbishing the flooring and benches.
“We have been helped out massively by support from town centre manager Chris Wilson, and were very kindly donated parking spaces around the back of the pub from the Heritage Foundation,” Savannah said.
“We are making it as safe as possible for everyone – and taking any suggestions or requests from our customers to help make the environment even safer. “Everyone has been absolutely amazing, and I couldn’t ask for more from our customers. We feel very lucky.”
Next year, The Arena Tavern will be celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Savannah hopes life will return to normal so they can celebrate the milestone in style.
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