Pubs reopening in Douglas say that despite having to close for lockdown they’re stocked-up and ready for customers to visit over the weekend .

The island’s restrictions were lifted at one minute past midnight on Monday after a successful circuit breaker lockdown meant life could resume as normal.

Some people were so eager to return to their local pubs, that they socialised into the early hours of Monday morning to celebrate.

We asked some landlords how the island’s second lockdown affected their business and how production has been.

THE THIRSTY PIGEON, VICTORIA ST, DOUGLAS

Rob McAleer said that when The Thirsty Pigeon were told they had to close one minute past midnight Wednesday January 6, the business had to accept it was for the good of the island’s community.

’It’s (the lockdown) kept us all safe and we’re up and running now, he said.

’We’ve got plenty of everything in and I think the government has had a lot of criticism over the year and at this particular juncture, they’ve done a jolly good job of keeping us all safe and keeping the island going.

’I can’t imagine what it must be like living in England.’

Mr McAleer said that his pub has kept things going smoothly throughout lockdown.

’We’ve got plenty of booze in, plenty of supplies and we’ve been alright,’ he said.

’We reopened at 11am as usual on Monday.’

THE ROVER’S RETURN, CHURCH ST, DOUGLAS

Guy Armstrong-Rossiter is the landlord of The Rovers Return and has been for 15 years.

He said this lockdown has involved a lot of different factors to the first.

’We’ll have our first Friday opening of the year this week.

’Beer production has been steady and as the yeast needs to be kept active, Bushy’s, has been brewing throughout lockdown.

’We’ve had a bit more heads-up this time and better prepared.’

Bushy’s brewery owner, Martin Brunnschweiler, said 90% of the company’s trade is through the pubs, but they fully understood the lockdown and are glad pubs have been reopened.

’During the first lockdown, we had already started brewing for TT and stockpiling and when everything closed in March, we were worried that we may have had to throw beer away,’ he said.

’Thankfully, we were able to sell beer in two-pint milk containers in the shops.

’We’ve managed to keep things ticking-over for this time - our store sales did well as people had to stay in, but we’re glad to have the pubs open again and that the lockdown happened in January, because traditionally it’s a fairly quiet time and got Christmas trade out of the way. We’re raring to go and get the pubs re-stocked.’

Mr Armstrong-Rossiter also said that his pub has regular customers who have been on their own over lockdown and are glad to be able to see friends again in the pub.

’It’s their break from getting out of the house - that’s the beauty of a community pub, everyone helps out and checks-in on each other,’ he added.

’We have one fella who’s in his early 20s who lives on his own and didn’t have the internet and was climbing the walls, so we helped him with that.

’This whole situation has affected so many people in different ways and without things like the pub, he could have been in a really bad place. Here, he can see and interact with people, which is important.’