Oxford (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Under the faded Lamb & Flag sign, staff pull out beer kegs, one after the other.

Like other historic Oxford pubs, the centuries-old establishment is definitely closing its doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Normally, the drinking establishments of the famous English university town are crowded with students, locals and tourists.

Since the onset of the pandemic last March, ads have been subject to a changing array of restrictions.

Due to the lockdown in effect until at least March, they can currently only sell take-out.

In January, St John's College, one of Oxford's faculties, decided to part ways with Lamb & Flag, as the 16th-century pub was no longer financially viable.

Its status as an association does not allow it to manage a loss-making business.

Across the street, the Eagle and Child, which once hosted the Inkling Literary Club to which JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis belonged, has closed for good and will be converted into a hotel.

"I know several pub owners who said stop, we cannot continue," confirms AFP Baz Butcher, who runs the White Hart in Wytham, near Oxford.

"Some closures are inevitable," adds Dave Richardson, spokesperson for the beer consumer organization Campaign for Real Ale.

According to him, the first to go out of business will be the small "very traditional" pubs, which the big chain breweries will sell first.

These establishments are primarily drink-oriented, and therefore have more stringent restrictions than those that can serve food.

- "Absolutely devastating" -

The Covid-19 has been "absolutely devastating", confides Jacqueline Paphitis, owner for 15 years of White Horse, who fears that some pubs "do not reopen, especially the independents".

This 16th century pub, with its wooden beams and famous emperor busts, once attracted film and series shoots.

From now on, all staff have been placed on partial unemployment.

Thanks to a reduction in rent and a subsidy of 25,000 pounds (28,000 euros) from the local authorities, "we are staying afloat", sighs Mrs Paphitis.

"It's very frustrating, but I would rather stay closed than reopen too early."

Same story with the Gardeners Arms, whose owner, Paul Silcock, believes it would be "so irresponsible and ridiculous to (reopen) now" as the country (more than 100,000 dead) tries to stem a very virulent third wave.

"Pubs are the perfect place to sit close to each other, argue, yell at each other, have fun, laugh ... and anything that really scatters particles everywhere!"

he explains, nostalgic.

- "Fucked" without food -

Thanks to loans and government aid, the owner of this red brick pub - which serves only vegetarian food and counts Radiohead singer Thom Yorke among his clients - "gets by" and isn't " still terrified of going bankrupt ".

However, he predicts "quite a bit of loss" among Oxford pubs if they are to remain closed until May, believing that all those who do not serve food are "screwed".

To survive, the White Hart, in Wytham, turned to food delivery.

"I am wholeheartedly with the pubs which only serve drinks", they "have obviously been decimated", laments Baz Butcher, while his employees assemble kits to prepare prime rib or kebabs at home. deer.

Since the start of the pandemic, he has sought to adapt his establishment.

This summer, he installed transparent plastic bubbles in the garden, so that customers can eat safe from the weather and the virus.

But the abrupt closure of pubs after Christmas left the restaurateur with a huge surplus of food and wine, equivalent to several thousand pounds.

Despite government grants and loans, Baz Butcher has accumulated "over 100,000 pounds of debt (113,500 euros) that I did not have before": "It's terrible for so many people".

© 2021 AFP