With time running out, Rossendale’s pub, bar and café owners are calling on the government for guidance about reopening.
Every day we’re asked by customers when we think the government will let us reopen, but with time running out to the suggested 4th July date, we and many of our fellow bar and café owners in the Valley are still in the dark about how and when it will be safe to open.
It’s been widely reported in the media that cafes and pubs with outdoor seating will be allowed to reopen first as the easing of lockdown restrictions continue. But then we have to remember that we are in Rossendale and not the Mediterranean and though we’d love to be able to rely on the weather to help our summer trade, the fact is we get on average 270 days of rain a year. So what happens when it rains? Do we just send customers home? Do we replace their drinks if they are outside in the rain? Are people allowed to eat outside our café on real plates and not takeaway cartons? Are customers allowed inside to use the toilet?
We are a small independent business and we want to make sure we operate under the correct rules. The council has given no guidance on what this actually means but reducing the 2m social distancing rule to 1.5m or 1m will help businesses to operate more productively.

Anna’s has been trading throughout the lockdown having pivoted the business to enable takeaways and deliveries. We have been able to offer takeaway lager in carry-home bottles as well as a range of wines and bottled beers. We also have a hot and cold food menu for takeaways. This has meant we can still be operational and serve our community effectively. The business has been well-supported by locals and our social media following has grown.
However, we are now asking for real, tangible guidance on how we can reopen safety for staff and for customers. We have installed hand sanitisers around the café but do we need to remove tables and install Perspex screens? We are a very small bistro so keeping to social distancing restrictions will be very difficult. Do we need an ordering app so customers can place orders to keep staff contact to a minimum?
We don’t have the kinds of budgets that the big restaurant chains do. What we really need is detailed information about what is expected of small businesses like ours in the hospitality sector so that we can plan. Small businesses like Anna’s haven’t got the money to just buy in Perspex screens or other measures when they may not be necessary. And with less than three weeks to go, time is running out. We are already getting our supply chains back up and running, rearranging rotas so that we can unfurlough staff and trying to second-guess what we need to be doing. There seems to be an expectation that bar owners can just walk in and turn the lights on and then start trading when the coffee machine warms up or the beer chillers are cooling. Let’s hope that they won’t leave it until the night before to tell us we can reopen. ​

A Note From Anna on COVID-19
13 April 2020
To our Anna's Family,
We’ve been thinking a lot about you lately – our customers, our employees and our greater communities. Whilst we are striving to run our operations largely as normal, your health and safety are our top priorities and at the heart of every decision we make. We believe it’s critical to do our part to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Here are some of the steps we are taking to protect everyone in this ever-evolving situation:

• We are working tirelessly to make sure that the food, drink and essentials you love are available when you want them, delivered in the safest way possible.

• We are diligently following guidance and best practices from the NHS, World Health Organisation and the UK government.

• Our staff is available on the phone or email to answer any questions about your Anna's experience, to work with you on the best delivery and takeaway options and provide more information on the many precautions we’re taking to protect your health and safety.

We are equally committed to taking care of our employees:

• We have given staff the option to Stay at Home if they do not feel safe working at the cafe serving our customers. They can choose whether to take paid or unpaid leave.
  
• We have provided extra disposable gloves for them to wear during their shifts if they feel it necessary - we are not forcing them to wear them.
  
• We have provided extra cleaning and sanitising products for surfaces to be cleaned down regularly during the day - these include all door handles, surfaces, touchscreen till, card machine and handrails.
  
• Through our established Staff Wellbeing Programme, we are providing all staff with the opportunity to access paid-for confidential mental health and wellbeing services over the phone or via video link.
• We are providing Statutory Sick Pay to our team from Day One that they need to self-isolate because of suspected illness themselves or their immediate family.

• We are asking staff to refrain from travel unless critical, and have issued written permits for their travel to work.
  
• Using our established employee communication methods, we continue to help  employees stay connected and keep up-to-date with information to help them stay healthy.

While the environment around us is uncertain, we take comfort in the fact that we have a world-class team and a compassionate and loyal community of customers. We stand ready to serve, and hope that our website and social channels can be a source of support, inspiration and solutions for you – because sometimes we all need a break from the news.

Thank you for being a part of the Anna's family,
Anna Federici-Preece | Partner

Taking Care of Our Team
While none of our staff can work from home (we are a customer facing, customer serving business), our delivery team (Anna and Robert) is up and running as our team continues to meet customers’ needs during these challenging times. We are proud to have a world-class team that is working quickly and safely to provide our customers with the food, drink and grocery items they need. Our no-contact experience has allowed us to deliver our products safely to our customers door using contact-free best practice - this includes payment over the phone, via PayPal or by card on your doorstep.

Protecting the health of our team as well as our customers, partners, and community is our top priority. We are taking the following measures to enhance safety and support for our teams:
Financial Security

• We have increased pay for all our employees in line with recent National Minimum Wage rises

• We are 100% of pay to furloughed employees to ensure they do not suffer loss of pay.

Health & Safety

• We have taken expert advice to implement preventative measures that are in line with guidance from the NHS.

• We have increased cleaning and sanitizing procedures in our shop/cafe, kitchen and storeroom, including regular deep cleanings, more frequent hand-washing and use of sanitizer, and cleaning all equipment between uses.

• We have taken a variety of steps to help employees maintain proper social distancing. This includes reducing the number of staff on shift and providing break out space to give staff a dedicated break area.
  
• We have implemented a no-contact delivery process to keep our drivers and customers safe (See how customers can help us create a no-contact delivery experience below).

Contact-free delivery
In order to provide a no-contact delivery experience, we are now offering curbside and doorstep deliveries only. Here are some additional steps we can take together:

• Our delivery person will maintain a distance of 1.5 - 2 meters when possible. We ask that you support our efforts to keep everyone safe and healthy by maintaining this distance as well.
• If you're paying by cash on delivery, please pop it in a place where we can get it without touching you. On the ground is fine. We will leave your change in the same way.
  
• Paying cash in the cafe/shop is fine - we just ask that you put your money on the counter and we will put your change down on the dedicated cash boards.
  

• Across our cafe/shop. kitchen, storeroom and vehicles, we have increased our daily cleaning routines, including more frequent handwashing, use of sanitizer, and cleaning of equipment.

• Our drivers will use hand sanitizer and/or soap between all deliveries. They will refrain from offering the typical handshake out of respect and caution for all.

Here's list of the things we are stocking in our essentials section. Please remember that sometimes items may not be in stock but we'll try our best to keep everything in. Sometimes prices may vary too depending on what we buy, or the brands we get in so please bear with us. If there's something you need, why not ask our Grocery Angels to go fetch it for you. Just give us a bell and we'll add it to our next supermarket run - easy! and saves you the hassle of hopping in the car! Use our Ring & Reserve service and we'll put all your groceries together for you ready to collect or to be delivered. We really want to help you during this crazy, crazy times... Phone 01706 876662