Venn Street Records introduces 'Covid charge' to 'help it get back on its feet'

The hospitality sector hasn't had an easy run of it these past 18 months. Lurching from one lockdown to another has left many London businesses struggling to stay afloat. In Clapham, more than a handful of doors have closed for good, and plenty of doors still open yet could.

Such difficulties have led one popular Clapham bar to go so far as introduce a 'Covid charge' designed to help the bar "get back on its feet following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic".

The new policy at Clapham bar Venn Street Records adds a £1 per person voluntary Covid charge to customers bills if they sit outside.

The Covid charge is separate from the charge applied for table service and can be removed at the customers discretion.

A spokesman for Venn Street Records, whose parent company Rocket Leisure also owns nearby Northcote Records, confirmed the new Covid charge.

They explained: "Venn St Records gives guests the option to pay a £1 cover charge per person to sit in the outside area. This supports the bar to get back on its feet following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"All guests are informed about the charge before sitting outside and it is removed if a customer decides not to pay it.

"The bar remains a popular spot for Clapham locals and is keeping the good times going with free live music, tasty pizzas and delicious cocktails.

"There are great deals running throughout the week, including happy hour 2-4-1 cocktails from 5pm – 8pm every day and a CheapDate offer of x2 pizzas and x2 drinks for £19 from Monday to Wednesday.

"We are continuing to follow government Covid guidelines across all our venues."

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