Popular South Shields pub 'struggling' as ferry closure cuts takings in half

A popular South Shields pub is ‘struggling’ after seeing its takings halved this year due to the suspension of the ferry.

Owner of the Alum Ale House, on Ferry Street, Jeff Dean, claims the pub, like other businesses in the area, is ‘struggling’ due to reduced customer numbers. And as a result, he says his takings are down 47% year-on-year, with less people using the pub due to the ferry service suspension.

The ferry, which runs to and from North Shields, saw services suspended from Wednesday, January 28 due to storm damage. The latest update from Nexus, which was released on Thursday, February 26, said repair work will be completed by the end of March. A further update on the service is expected to be released soon.

“At the start of the year everyone would have seen the bad turn in the weather in January and February” explains Dean, who owns and runs the Alum Ale House.

Alum Ale House ‘struggling’ due to lack of Shields Ferry

He added: “I don’t think there anything they could have done but the storms hit.

“We’ve had five months of really bad turnovers.”

This has resulted in less passing trade for the pub, which has been under Jeff’s ownership for 16 years.

He said: “As a whole it’s really hit us big style. We’re down 47% to date on last year because of this impact. It’s not just me, all the businesses around here are suffering because of it.”

Dean believes the impact is being felt on both sides of the water, he said: “We get a lot of people on a Saturday, big groups, going over for brunch.”

Because of the lack of trade, the bar has taken the decision to close and renovate now ahead of services resuming again.

Dean continued: “We’re doing painting and decorating, all the little jobs we can’t do when we’re really busy.”

Work is continuing on the site this week with the pub due to open again in the coming days ahead of the Easter period, which is usually very busy.

“Come Easter, that’s your get-out clause for what you didn’t cover over the winter and we’re not getting that. We’re struggling a lot” adds Jeff.

“Summer’s coming, with pubs you’ve got to use it or lose it. Pubs are closing on a massive scale and I don’t think people realise how many pubs are closing on local high streets.”

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The impact is being felt elsewhere too.

“If anything I think we’ve got a bit more business from people not being able to go on the ferry” says Tamara Gaynor, Assistant Manager of The Steamboat pub on Mill Dam.

“It’s a bit different this year, I can’t describe it.”

The Shields Ferry has remained out of order since the storms due to damage to the north landing on the North Shields Fish Quay.

This issue has impacted more than just Jeff. “I’ve had to cut hours on staff to save costs, so they’ve lost money because I’ve had to more hours myself to keep things going.”

“I’m here seven days a week” he adds. After working at the Nissan plant in Washington for 37 years he has now been able to put additional time into the bar.

“I retired just under two years ago, that came just at the right time.”