The Blue Ball at Braunston is Rutland's oldest inn and has been offering hospitality for 400 years.

You'll find this hidden gem off the main road, just opposite the village church, on Cedar Street.

This award winning, AA accredited Covid Confident country dining pub is open for Dine In bookings or Dine At Home Takeaway orders on Wednesday Evenings and All Weekend.

As Nub News previously reported, the historic hostelry weathered the lockdown by pivoting its business model to takeaways and essential provisions from March to June and reopening in July this year.

The pub was closed for just one month to give landlord Dominic Way time to deep clean, redecorate, reorganise the tables, dining rooms and outdoor

decking to offer distanced tables and get everything right and ready to reopen safely in July.

And it's not just the decor that's been updated, their fresh menu dishes have gone up a notch too under talented head chef, Calum Nall, who's swiftly gaining a reputation for his unpretentious delicious taste and texture

combinations, and clever twists on pub classics.

The Blue Ball is in great company as one of four regional finalists in Great Food Club's Dining Pub of the Year Award - winner to be announced on 2 November. The previous winners were The Olive Branch, Clipsham and The Wheatsheaf, Greetham.

Dominic said: "Since reopening on 10 July, business has been encouraging with lots of initially nervous customers congratulating us on

our covid secure measures and being reassured to return. And we're getting rave customer reviews too, which all helps.

"But with the weather turning and constant news coverage of increasing

Covid cases, and regional restrictions, things have suddenly slowed down. It's a shame because we've maintained exemplary risk minimising measures here from the get go, and have been assessed by both the AA and Visit England as meeting the highest possible covid secure standards."

Prior to reopening, The Blue Ball carried out risk assessments, rearranged its seating and retrained all its staff which resulted in a range of measures

that went above and beyond the minimum requirements. They were already providing full table service for drinkers and diners, ensuring social distancing, and using a one touch service system so it hasn't been as hard for them as it has perhaps proved for some other venues to simply add the

wearing of face masks indoors and closing an hour earlier at 10pm.

Feedback and reviews from new and returning customers have been overwhelmingly positive with lots of comments about how safe they felt there, the food and service quality, and how this charming historic pub and it's friendly staff have managed to maintain a warm and welcoming

atmosphere while making sure that no safety corners are cut.

It's not all plain sailing though. While the vast majority of customers appreciate how seriously the owners and staff take their responsibilities.

Dominic said: "There's always the odd one who doesn't seem to understand that we're legally required to enforce social distancing and mask wearing here and then bristles at being reminded to comply. Not only do we face fines of up to £10,000 for any breaches, the new laws exist to protect everyone including ourselves and our team. But most people really appreciate our efforts and congratulate us on our rigorous approach."

Part of the problem may be genuine customer confusion. It used to be that only a max of two households/support bubbles could meet up indoors in England. Then the "Rule of Six" came in, which means a max of 6 people

from different households.

What a lot of people forget or don't get is that a legally defined support bubble is permanent (not just who you happen to be staying or who you tend to socialise with) and can only include another household headed by a single adult and that the social distancing rules still apply.

Social distancing means that everyone should try to stay at least 2m from anyone they don't live with or, where 2m isn't possible, 1m plus.

The "plus" element is what the Prime Minister Boris Johnson called mitigations such as not sitting side by side rather than face to face, washing your hands regularly, wearing a mask, not touching/sharing utensils - if a 2m gap can't be kept to.

Dominic says that he's still having to explain this to customers who appear dismayed that people from 2 or 3 separate households simply can't all crowd round the same table without leaving a minimum 1m gap, so often

need to be seated at side by side tables in the same room instead.

"I've lost count of the times someone's insisted that they're a single bubble when they plainly aren't or who just wants to do what they want to do, such as mingling and interacting with other people they happen to meet here, or moving tables and chairs that have been carefully positioned, or asking to sit too close to, or face to face with, people they don't live with."

The new laws replace and reinforce what was previously only government guidance. But, even prior to the rule of six or and the legislation that now

requires hospitality venues to enforce social distancing and mask wearing when moving around indoors, everyone was already supposed to maintain 1m plus social distancing when meeting up with other households indoors or outdoors.

Dominic continued: "It doesn't help any of us one iota to scoff at the laws or call them, or us, ridiculous! It just makes our jobs harder to have to politely remind them of the rules and insist that they don't break the law here".

Looking ahead, the future seems uncertain.

Dominic explained: "Who knows what the future holds... enhanced general, local or industry specific restrictions, a national "circuit breaker" lockdown, further job losses in the hospitality sector.

"Our biggest fear is not being able to rebuild trade over time to pre- covid levels and accumulating even more debt through no fault of our own.

"If this is the case, then many pubs and restaurants will simply fold, leading to the loss of jobs and crucial community hubs".

But Dominic says that he's nowhere near ready to concede defeat yet.

"This tale is not yet told. We'll continue to adapt and survive unless or until we're compelled to throw the towel in. Indeed, we hope to thrive in the longer run, albeit in a thinned out market, because we're a small and agile

business with community support and high standards of food, service and safety."

According to recent government data, only 4.7% of traceable transmissions occurred in hospitality venues and this percentage includes city centre pubs as well as country dining pubs and restaurants. The data suggesting higher figures is much disputed as it relies on small samples and US rather than UK data.

Whatever the actual number of covid cases originating in the broader UK hospitality sector, not all of which are yet tested and traced after the launch and glitches of the new NHS app, it's clear that hospitality venues like The Blue Ball take their responsibilities for the protection of all customers and staff extremely seriously, work hard behind the scenes have enhanced measures in place that exceed those in most homes or places of education or work, were the majority of transmissions are occurring.

As Dominic further explained, "We can't absolutely remove all risks but we can massively minimise them. It's that not any single measure alone makes the difference, but the 100 small things we do every day to keep everyone as safe as secure as humanly possible."

Everyone who arrives on site at the pub, including all the staff and customers, has their temperature taken and sanitises their hands. All condiments are individual. All tables are socially distanced and all chairs and tables are sanitised immediately as customers depart. All touch points are regularly sanitised. All menus are wipeable or disposable and all menus, glasses, plates and utensils have only been touched by the same, single server.

Yet the real stars here are the picture postcard 17th Century thatched

exterior and beamed interior with real log fires, top notch food cooked to order from fresh seasonal and local produce and the warm welcome and full table service from the friendly, well trained staff.

It all makes the venue a TripAdvisor favourite, with customers lavishing praise.

The two latest comments, as do many others, gave the Blue Ball five stars.

667Brynb said: "We had dinner twice at the Blue Ball during our week's stay in Braunston at the beginning of September. This was the first time I had visited a pub since the lockdown in March so I was slightly nervous about how it would all work. But I'm very pleased to say that the Blue Ball team have made excellent provisions for covid safety.

"The food was great and the team were all very friendly. We were also made to feel very welcome by the local customers as well which is a real treat when visiting a country pub for the first time. The menu is also very friendly for vegans/vegetarians. Highly recommended."

Philippajane86 of Oakham said: "Came tonight for "date night" Dinner and I could not recommend the Blue Ball more highly.. it is clear they are going above and beyond to keep patrons and staff safe in light of silly covid, this does not stop the staff being amazing! So helpful and friendly throughout.

"The food? Simply put.. I cannot do it justice, you have to try it for yourself! Thank you to everyone involved in making our night so special. We will be back it was fantastic!"

For details and bookings, go to www.theblueballbraunston.co.uk

To book a 2 hour table slot of takeaway collection slot:

01572 722135

07377 954176

[email protected]

Follow The Blue Ball:

Twitter: @BBBChat

Insta: TheBlueBall_Braunston

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