OWNERS of a bar in Meirionnydd which opened the doors to its first customers as lockdown restrictions eased may be forced to close again already, following a row over outdoor tables.

Dean Hawkins and his partner, Leah Stephens, battled to get Beechwood House in Dolgellau open earlier this year, but a number of issues delayed their start and then lockdown hit.

As lockdown lifted, the couple offered takeaway drinks before opening to the public as restrictions eased. But just as the business is starting to take off, they say its future is under threat again claiming Gwynedd Council told them to remove four wooden tables outside the bar, following a complaint.

“It’s very frustrating and this could mean the end,” 30-year-old Dean told the Cambrian News.

“The pavement is wide enough - the council came out and measured it 28 days ago and approved the space. Now they say they’ve had a complaint and the tables have to go,” Dean claimed, adding: “If I don’t get rid of them myself, they said they’ll charge me for the removal.”

But Dean is appealing to the council to let him keep the tables, which he says are key to the bar’s survival.

“My licence lets me have up to 100 people inside standing, but we have seats for 54. However, social distancing takes that down to just 18 people as everyone has to be seated, and they have to be two metres apart.

“The tables outside allow us to serve another 18. If we lose those, we can’t afford to stay open.”

Dean and Leah have a four-week-old daughter and a three-and-a-half year old son, and have struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic.­

“Because we weren’t trading before lockdown started, we didn’t qualify for furlough, self-employed grants or any other support,” Dean said. “We had a battle to get the licence in the first place because there was a complaint and we had to go to a hearing, but the person complaining didn’t show and the licence was granted, albeit with restrictions about not being able to have a pool table or a jukebox.

“If that complaint hadn’t been made, we would probably have been able to open before lockdown and qualified for financial help. Because we opened after that, we don’t qualify and everything we’ve put in has come from our savings.

“The last penny I earned was in February and we went seven months scraping by, finally offering discount drinks but hardly making anything from that. This last month we’ve done well but if the benches go and our capacity is reduced to just 18 inside, I think that’ll be it.

“And if it sinks, that’s my money and my livelihood gone. It’s frustrating, especially when other businesses in the town have used car parks and had roads closed so they can put tables and chairs out.”

Despite the struggles, Dean and Leah, also 30, want to make the bar work, and have lots of support.

“A petition has been signed by nearly 1,000 people, and people have told us the tables make Dolgellau look welcoming as the bar is one of the first buildings you see on Bridge Street as you come in,” said Dean.

“And lots of people have been using the tables, which some prefer because of the coronavirus, so I really hope they’ll be allowed to stay.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “Gwynedd Council can confirm that an application was received by the licence holder of Beechwood House Gin Bar for a street furniture licence outside the property.

“This proposal underwent a 28-day consultation process, at the end of which Gwynedd Council acting in its capacity as the Highway Authority and taking into account various representations during this time, have decided that they are unable to grant a licence for this location.”* Dean contacted the Cambrian News today (Thursday), to say the benches have been removed. He hopes they will be returned.