Leeds pub Cardigan Arms 'changing to school' after national lockdown announcement

Boris Johnson’s lockdown announcement means pubs and bars across the country will shut from Thursday - but this Leeds pub say they have 'found a way around it'
The Cardigan Arms pub 'changing to school' after lockdown announcementThe Cardigan Arms pub 'changing to school' after lockdown announcement
The Cardigan Arms pub 'changing to school' after lockdown announcement

The Cardigan Arms pub in Kirkstall, Leeds jokingly announced on Twitter on Saturday that they have decided to become a school in order to stay open.

This comes after the Prime Minister announced in his press conference at the weekend that educational facilities such as schools, colleges and universities are to remain open during the four-week lockdown period.

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Hospitality venues such as pubs, restaurants and bars, however, will be forced to close.

The hilarious tweets from the pub began with: “We have decided to become a school.”

They jokingly then continued their idea in tweets throughout the weekend, such as encouraging followers to come and enjoy burgers, sandwiches, fries and small plates ‘in a lovely Victorian school.’

The ‘school’ pub even created a Venn diagram to share on Twitter which included ‘£2.50 cask pints’ as part of their curriculum management process.

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The Kirkstall Brewery pub have changed their Twitter name to ‘The Cardigan Arms School’ with ‘Arms’ crossed out to enable followers to see their intended change.

The genius pub also posted a picture with quotes from Busted’s ‘What I Go To School For’ song encouraging followers to ‘come to the pub!’ which was quickly corrected to ‘school’ with the Arms claiming they’re still getting used to their change.

The Cardigan Arms was built in 1896 and is a historical, Grade II listed Victorian pub that was restored to its former glory by Kirkstall Brewery.

The restoration even won the AMRA’s Joe Goodwin Award as part of its national Pub Design Awards in 2019.

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The pub is known for its impressive interiors, boasting displays of fine woodwork, etched glass, mosaic panels in both entrances and the original ceiling mouldings and wall coverings from the 19th century.

The national lockdown in England which will see temporary closure of the Cardigan Arms along with other hospitality venues across England will begin on Thursday and last until December 2.

Last week it was announced that West Yorkshire would enter Tier 3 restrictions from today (Monday) but the West Yorkshire Combined Authority announced in a tweet on Saturday night that this would no longer go ahead as planned, but instead West Yorkshire will follow national restrictions as of Thursday.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the national announcement in a press conference on Saturday, which marks a dramatic shift in Government policy as the Prime Minister has until now resisted pressure to reintroduce nationwide restrictions.

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Under the new measures announced, people can only leave home for specific reasons including for education, work if they cannot work from home, exercise and recreation outdoors, for medical reasons, to escape injury or harm to shop for food and essentials and to provide care for vulnerable people.

Individuals can also meet with one other person at a social distance in a public outdoor area such as a park.

It is being urged that workplaces should stay open where people cannot work from home, for example in construction and manufacturing, however non-essential shops and leisure venues will all be closed, as will pubs, bars and restaurants.

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