First bands return at Doncaster live music pub since lockdown

The audience may be smaller than it was before March – but the Horse and Groom pub on East Laith Gate in the town centre has re-introduced its band nights on a trial basis.

Doncaster band The Patriots were the first group to take to the stage at the venue since lockdown, and pub landlady Ailene Horrocks hopes to be able to continue with the music nights if they are successful – but she admits it will depend on Government changes to the current rules.

Audience members have to book in advance, and when they arrive must stay in their seats. Drinks are brought to their socially distanced tables.

Numbers on the tables are limited and audience members sit with their backs to each other.

Ailene believes the Horse and Groom was the first venue in Doncaster to stage live music since March, and said visitors had obeyed the rules, and had applauded when bands explained those rules to the audience before the shows.

She said: “I think they are so grateful to see a bit of entertainment back on.

"In the past people just came in and stood – that’s not allowed any more. We work to how many stools we’ve got, and we have borrowed some from other venues.

"The bands have been fantastic. Our capacity is perhaps 60. It would have been 150 in the past.

"The groups are not getting the money that they got in the past, but it is not the same capacity, but they understand that they need venues like us to be open.

"We are trialling this in September to see how we go. We will review it at the end of the month. But it all depends on if anything changes in the restrictions. We’ve been allowed to stage music under the guidelines since August."

The Patriots had been booked in to play in September since before lockdown.

The band kept re-iterating throughout the show that people had to follow the rules.

"I’m not getting too far ahead and booking bands for next year yet,” said Ailene.