Episode 3

Coronavirus is spreading and the British public are told to stay away from pubs. Tom and the landlords he has been supporting face a moral dilemma. Do they keep trying to trade or do they close their doors to fight the virus?

On Friday 20 March 2020, the decision is taken out of their hands when the prime minister tells all pubs to close until further notice. Tom started this journey to save four pubs from going under - now every pub in Britain, his own included, finds themselves in a fight for survival.

Tom stays in touch with the pubs as they navigate lockdown, while also working out how to save his own businesses. In response to the crisis, Tom sets up a charity providing free meals to frontline workers.

The pubs record their experiences on home video. It is eerily quiet living above an empty pub but at least there’s beer on tap while it lasts. They also find ways to serve their communities, offering discounted takeaway food and, at The White Hart in Cornwall, essential groceries to people isolating in the community.

Tom sees lockdown as an opportunity for landlords to reboot their business plans. For the tenants of the Prince Albert in Stroud, this is the perfect time to renegotiate terms with their pub company.

By June, preparations are underway for reopening. No-one is sure how long it will be before the traditional pub experience is possible but, for now, they must follow Covid-safe rules. Tom has hardly heard from one of the pubs and is worried it won’t reopen.

Finally, after 106 days closed, Britain’s pubs are allowed to welcome back customers. For roughly half of Britain’s pubs that do reopen, it is cause for celebration. But even they aren’t out of the woods yet.