Ilkley bar The Ticket Office transforms outside seating to adapt to latest Covid rules
A bar in Ilkley has transformed its services to save jobs and help the business stay afloat during the pandemic.
The Ticket Office, in Station Road, has invested heavily in extra safety measures, such as thermal imaging temperature checking and regular fogging, after re-opening in July.
The bar has embraced the latest set of regulations by improving its outside area with heaters and building a covering.
The changes have helped the bar to keep all of its full-time staff throughout the pandemic.
The Ticket Office is also working together with neighbouring business La Stazione, allowing each other access to use the other’s outside space when they are closed.
The bar's general manager, Liam Chantry, said: “It has been a real rollercoaster of a ride this year with circumstances changing all the time and I would be lying if I said it hadn’t been tough, but I am really proud of the team and the way they remained positive and stepped up when it’s been needed most.
“The investment in the outside area will ensure that we can continue to trade with mixed households up to six and provide food and drink, not only in safety but also in warmth.”
The venue has developed a ‘Cocktails at Home’ package that will launch soon, where customers can make the bar's signature drinks in the comfort of their home.
The bar is also planning a ‘Ticket Office to Your Office’ initiative, where it will provide food for masterclasses to entertain work teams.
Liam added: “The cocktails at home package ensures that those customers who don’t feel comfortable visiting the venue can still enjoy what we do best, perhaps on a date night or via Zoom with friends.
"We will continue to adapt what we offer dependant upon what is thrown at us next, in order to save jobs and keep hospitality alive but we do ask local people to continue to support their local, independent businesses, to help us achieve this."