Campus’ deteriorating bar system was dealt another blow this summer, when the University unexpectedly announced that they would close Derwent bar- beginning this academic year.
Only a quick fix by Lewis Bretts, YUSU Democracy and Services Officer, that has enabled a 5 week, YUSU- run trial period for the failing bar.
Irate Bretts complained that he was “extremely disappointed that the seriousness of the situation facing Derwent Bar specifically was not communicated at an earlier point in time”.
Derwent Chair Joe Rankin is said to be ‘fuming’ at how the fiasco was handled, with the bombshell announcement taking the Derwent JCRC, bar staff and students totally by surprise.
“The University didn’t threaten the closure of the bar; they closed it, outright and entirely. Moreover, it was without warning,” he said.
“The question is not whether the University were right to threaten the closure, because they didn’t even do us that favour.”
Thankfully YUSU have stepped in to operate the bar in the evenings from Tuesday to Sunday, meaning that it will be open for the first five weeks of term.
“Should income from the initial five week period cover the operating costs, we would continue the service”, explained Lewis Bretts. “Should the service not cover its costs for any five week period, the service will be stopped”.
Ironically, Vision has learnt that the University is investing in late licenses for other campus bars, at the same time as planning to shut down Derwent. Many students have called for the Univeristy to invest in a revamp of the bar, with the bar’s current canteen-like design pin-pointed as one of the reasons for its faltering popularity.
A second year Derwenter confessed: “The Courtyard has a great design and has proved that campus bars can be successful. Although in fresher’s term our bar was awesome, in summer time it was deserted on most nights”.
Rankin has hit back at these suggestions, insisting that: “Derwent bar has shown before it is a space capable of making a profit; even when it’s so poorly designed. Events continue to be a success, and people use the bar regardless of the atmosphere.”
Press officer David Garner insisted: “All College bars are under a University review as there is a continuing national decline in bars patronage. This trend has now been evident for the past four years. Derwent bar has not been singled out.” The Derwent JCRC is keen to revive their unsuccessful bar, however it is set to be a serious challenge. “The only side that isn’t working hard is the University who should invest in the space, and address their management structure which can be obstructive and unresponsive,” said Rankin.
The row over Derwent bar comes just months after Alcuin’s college bar ‘B Henrys’ was threatened with closure, again due to falling profits.
A compromise of reduced opening hours was only achieved after a lengthy campaign to keep the bar open.
The new focus on Derwent has left many students wondering which bar will be next for the chop.
I’m pretty sure that YUSU aren’t running the bar & that B Henry’s hours have actually been extended and not cut.
The author might also want to check the definition of irony.
Actually, although the dictionary definition of irony may not be appropriate to its usage in this article, the way this author has used said word, is actualy a relatively common ‘mistake’. As words are just culturally agreed signifiers, and language changes constantly, and said changes can be phonetic, syntactic (most important in thise case)and semantic, I think we can agree, that since so many people ‘mis-use’ the word irony, it has undergone a syntactic change, and therefore, the author has used it appropriately?
Just a thought.
PS. Yes I know there’s a typo on ‘actually’, before the ‘spelling police’ turn out.