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A BAR boss fears for the future after shutting her doors for an unknown length of time as the coronavirus lockdown cuts through the country.

Punters at the Gateside Inn attended for one last drink on Friday, March 20 after the First Minister announced that all pubs were to shut to help stem the spread of coronavirus cases.

Shutting up shop is not something landlady Holly Pearson is used to, having worked 364 days a year for 14 years at the Gateside pub where she lives with her two children.

Holly told the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald how that final night of business was booming as customers flocked to her pub for a final tipple before closure.

She said: “Friday night was amazing for us. Everyone came down to the pub and we had a really good night’s trade.”

Her mood changed the next day as she realised the implications the shutdown will have on her business.:

She said:“The Saturday was just numb. The pub looks sad. There’s no lights on. I went into clean it this morning and it just felt so cold and unwelcoming. A pub is a social place, we’re used to having people here all the time.”

Although Holly was devastated and reluctant to close the pub, she is glad that at least, because of the directions from the government, she’ll be able to apply for grants to help with costs.

In the week prior to the announcement of closure, where the advice had been for people to stay away from pubs, Holly noticed a significant decline in trade, which forced her to let staff go as income shriveled up.

She said: “Prior to that We didn’t know how we were going to manage. I have not slept for over a week with worry over it, it’s so overwhelming.

“We’re relying on the Government to make good on it’s promises and for the public to support us when things get back to normal.”