AS PART of our continuing spotlight feature we are highlighting local pubs and bars across Denbighshire and Conwy.

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Pubs, bars and restaurants have been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown.

One 300 year old Llandudno pub is bouncing back by adding an outdoor hut and bar along with a barbecue and pizza oven, and redecorated restaurant with new furniture and lighting.

“This year we have been so busy, horrendously busy,” said Stephen Reese, owner of The Kings Head for 20 years. “Fish and chips and burgers have been flying out and we have had to cut the menu to cope with numbers. We thought we were busy last year doing 80 customers a day but now is at 160, that’s level of busyness. We’re trying to do twice as much as normal.”

It marks the end of an “horrific” 18 months in which pubs across the country had to close during lockdown, and the pub decided it would not join in the wave of takeaway deliveries.

“2020 was horrific to say the least,” Stephen said. “We had the rug pulled from under our feet from March to July.

“It was a relief to reopen but then you could see the cases rising and we had to shut from December until April. Sitting home nine months wasn’t pleasant. That is a long time, and it has been hard to keep on top of things. We managed it in the end and have reinvested with the refurbishment.”

The barbecue has been highly popular during summer events including the outdoor music Soul in the Sun featuring a DJ and Motown music, with the final night taking place this Sunday.

“The barbecue has been a great success but trying to run the pizza oven has been difficult as we just don’t have the staff at the moment,” said Stephen.

“Everyone is chomping at the bit to get staff and we have been so busy. Most people are just wanting normal food, so we have decided not to use the oven yet.

“We are planning to do takeaways including pizzas during winter so the oven will be a great addition.”

The pub hopes takeaways will help it to make a turnover during the quieter winter period.

“We are all a bit worried about winter as we haven’t seen any locals yet; our customers have been 95 per cent tourists,” Stephen said. “You can’t put your finger on these things: people may be wary with the town being so busy.”

Hopefully it is not a long-term change, of which there have been many during Stephen’s two-decade ownership of the pub.

“There has been the sad loss of the old boys who used to drink here over the years; they are irreplaceable, once-in-a-generation drinkers.

“We try to keep up with trends and with the changes we have made, we’re confident that next year we’ll be in an even better position.”

The Kings Head, Old Rd, Llandudno. Tel: 01492 877993