For over 20 years my brother George was a resident performer in Jinty McGintys bar on Ashton lane. I have so many fabulous memories of the venue, spent many Sunday afternoons, Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights enjoying the live music and talking with the staff and regulars. It was very much part of my life moving from a teenager, to getting married to my wife Linda & becoming a dad. Catching up with the friends we made there is still a thrill, even though the time between visits seems to be getting longer.
The unimaginable changes brought on this year has impacted the hospitality industry to a critical level. I caught up with my good friend Caroline Wright, manager at Jinty McGintys to talk about what the future might hold for bars in the city and what’s kept her going during this year.
Q. Jintys never reopened as restrictions started to lift over the summer, what was the thinking behind that?
A. Jintys is leasing out restaurant upstairs and serving lunches only between 12-3.
Unfortunately the shape and dimensions of the bar would have allowed very few people in and with only 4 booths holding 4-5 people seated with no one allowed to stand anywhere. In and around shelving areas would have again limited the amount of people with social distancing being a failure for us. Logistics of the bar and toilets even with the beer garden, we decided it was too costly to staff toilets on such a narrow staircase one in one out.
More importantly with no Live music, which is a major part of the business we would not have survived.
Q. How have you been keeping yourself busy?
A. Cooking walking painting even inside of cupboards. Few jobs always planned to do, i.e. boxes of old photographs organised into families ages individuals, but just got round to them all yet
Q. What has been your biggest challenge?
A. Learning to relax, I found this really difficult in early lockdown.
Q. Where have you found strength at difficult times?
A. I found strength in knowing there is survival, looking at how others navigated pandemics before this. Also, thinking of parents and relatives making it through the 2nd world war people going through loss illness any disaster. Made me feel how fortunate and blessed we are with food on our table clothes on our back and being loved by family and friends.
Living in a digital age means family and friends are so much more accessible
Q, If you could go back to March & give yourself some advice - what would it be?
A. Arranging some kind of rota system for spending time with friends, having structure.
Q. What have you learned about yourself?
A. I’ve learned how to slow down and realised the pace I lived was too fast and did not appreciate life. Also learned to relax without stressing. As simple as some things can be, everything doesn’t need to be finished today, it’s alright for some things to be finished tomorrow. A bit of me time is alright.
Q. Did you pick up any new skills?
A. Truthfully No new skills, I’ve been too busy slowing down enjoying relaxation with my new boyfriend Netflix. We only met when lockdown started.
Q. What have you missed most?
8. I've missed my family and still do, with my son, daughter in law & grandchild in New York, they seem so much further away. My daughter lives 30 mins away but her job too risky to come see me.
With grandchildren in Dundee and Aberdeen, siblings living in Edinburgh I’ve not really been able to see them, social media and technology has been great for staying in touch.
Q. What will be the biggest challenge facing the hospitality and bar industry as we attempt to move out of lockdown?
A. Really difficult question and not sure which way this will go, staying afloat, has to be a starting place. Opening your doors is about making some profit, otherwise there is no point in opening in first place.
Some bars and restaurants will not being able to survive as costs rise prices will for customers too.
Peoples habits will change perhaps going out will become more of a treat
Going to bars and being allowed to stand interacting with people, have a few libations enjoy the company.......its all about the socialising. If you have to pay extra for pint who in there right mind would even consider this. It seems to be driven towards healthier lifestyle staying fit seems to be the way forward.
