One of Manchester’s most celebrated pubs has told customers who complained about their Covid safety measures to ‘leave our staff alone’.
The Marble Arch said that some ‘strange people’ have been complaining to staff about the pub’s face mask policies.
The Rochdale Road boozer recently reintroduced the mandatory wearing of face coverings when moving around the venue, as well as table service, in a bid to create a ‘safe environment’.
But Paul Plowman, a director at Marble Brewery, said that some people have taken issue with the rules.
The Marble Arch / Credit: Instagram @themarblearchmcr
Some customers even threatened to boycott the Marble Arch.
He invited those who aren’t happy about the new safety measures to take their business elsewhere, saying they ‘really don’t care’ and will ‘bat on without you’.
His words, making it ‘abundantly clear’ that unpleasantness towards staff won’t be tolerated, have been praised by thousands on social media.
One person even asked if Paul fancies running the country.
Paul wrote: “Yesterday our flagship pub the Marble Arch made the decision to make masks mandatory whilst not seated and make the use of table service.
“The bottom line reason for this is this: Our priority is keeping our staff and customers safe whilst simultaneously trying to keep our business going, and with no government support, keep our staff paid.
“Seems reasonable to me.
A thread. Pls retweet. I’m one of the directors of @marblebrewers. Yesterday our flagship pub the Marble Arch made the decision to make masks mandatory whilst not seated and make the use of table service. The bottom line reason for this is this: Our priority is keeping our staff
“However since this we’ve had a number of strange responses on social media (to be expected) but more importantly our management and staff have had to put with strange people in real life complaining about these measures.
“I would like to make this abundantly clear to anyone who feels they want to reply to this or speak to our staff with anything along the lines of ‘right well that’s my custom you’ve lost’, we really don’t care.
“Honestly, we will bat on without you.
“Throw as many insults as you like, leave the pub in disgust if you want, as long as you leave our staff alone, we really don’t care.
The Marble Arch / Credit: Flickr
“Finally I’d like to take a moment to thank all our customers who don’t really see the fuss with the measures, and have supported our business at a time when we need it the most.
“Cheers, have a great Christmas!”
People have praised Paul for sticking up for his staff, with one person writing: “Good to see some real leadership, taking the necessary steps to protect people, both staff and customers. You don’t fancy running the country do you?”
Another said: “Big vibes for the directors coming out to support the staff right now. We love to see it.”
One of Marble’s employees wrote: “This week has been horrid. Whatever side of the bar you’re on, you know just how hard Xmas run up is even at the best of times, and I can’t find words to express the frustration at the moment.
“But I’ll tell you summat for nothing, though. I’m bloody proud to work for this team.”
Featured Image – The Marble Arch MCR
Food & Drink
Nostalgic ready-to-drink Breezer makes UK return after a decade
Daisy Jackson
An iconic ready-to-drink favourite has launched back into the UK – oh yes, Breezer is back.
First launched in the 1990s, Breezers – then pitched as an ‘alcopop’ – were a staple on dancefloors and at barbecues right across the UK.
And now Bacardi has decided to bring these delicious, fruity, easy-drinking bottles back to British shores.
There are three new flavours to try as Breezers return to your fridges – Zesty Orange, Zingy Lime, and Crisp Watermelon.
And Breezer launched back into Manchester last night with a suitably memorable party, turning a spot in the Northern Quarter into a corner shop.
The ‘local Cornerbop’ was stacked with your usual essentials, plus shelf after shelf of these colourful glass ready-to-drink bottles.
Inside the Breezer ‘Cornerbop’ corner shop in ManchesterBreezer is back, in three new flavours
The Breezer relaunch party saw Tarsza and Rennie Peters spinning nostalgic anthems with a modern twist at a pop-up party in a corner shop.
Steve Young, business unit director for Bacardi in the UK & Ireland, said: “We know there is a lot of love for Breezer in the UK, and we are confident a new generation of consumers will fall in love with the new Breezer.
“RTDs are booming, however, the Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages category could do with a bit more excitement. By bringing back Breezer we’re definitely putting the fruity taste into FAB.”
The iconic ready-to-drink classic is back – and better than ever.
£1.8m revamp of Ancoats pub The Shamrock is FINALLY set to begin
Daisy Jackson
At long last, work to revamp The Shamrock pub in Ancoats is about to begin – and they’re calling on locals to rename the historic boozer.
The Shamrock, on Bengal Street, was taken over by Joseph Holt brewery in 2019 but has been firmly sealed shut ever since, with the pandemic halting its revamp.
But now the family-owned brewery is ready to get to work on the pub, with a £1.8m revamp kicking off very soon.
The Shamrock, which dates back to 1808, will be transformed from an Irish pub into a Joseph Holt’s venue.
Back in the turn of the 19th century, it was a popular watering hole for the Irish and Italian communities who moved to the industrial neighbourhood.
Obviously, Ancoats has gone through some pretty major changes in the years since, and is now one of the city’s trendiest and foodiest suburbs, filled with flats, bars, coffee shops and more.
It’s because of this that the Joseph Holt team felt like The Shamrock was due a new name for its new chapter, and are asking the public to help rename the pub, with a shortlist of five names drawn up.
The options on the table for when the pub reopens include The Victoria Arms (as a nod to the flats and accommodation across the road); The Fleet (the name of a former neighbouring pub); and The Linen Arms, reflecting the city’s cotton trade.
The historic Ancoats pub The Shamrock will finally undergo a £1.8m revamp. Credit: Supplied
The other choices for the public to vote on are The Spinners Rest, after the mill workers who lived in historic Ancoats; and Queen Adelaide, after another former pub around the corner on the main Ancoats Road.
Richard Kershaw, CEO of Joseph Holt, said: “As a family business with deep roots in the area, our pubs are very much at the very heart of the communities where they are located.
“With the moving forward of long-awaited refurbishment of The Shamrock – and with it a new name – we wanted our customers to feel part of the journey.
“So we brainstormed names for the pub that would respect the past and the local area while also looking to the future. Now we’re letting the people who matter most to us, our customers, decide which one to use.”
You can place your vote on the new name for The Shamrock pub HERE. One participant who picks the winning name will receive free drinks vouchers.
Daisy Jackson -
22nd December 2021 
