厂耻谤谤别测鈥檚 is among the first bars in Metro Vancouver to feature live entertainment in the post-COVID world.

The Newton-area pub welcomed back live bands a couple of weeks ago, starting with 鈥渉ouse band鈥� The Wingnuts on June 5.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e one of the first bars to have live music again, definitely, because we wanted to get ahead of that curve,鈥� said pub operator George Hart. 鈥淲e knew we could do it safely, so we figured why not, let鈥檚 get it going again.鈥�

For now, measures to stop the virus from spreading include clear plastic sheets hung between tables and encouraging physical distancing, among other rules.

鈥淭he hardest part is reminding people that they can鈥檛 dance, which isn鈥檛 easy,鈥� Hart said with a laugh.

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Spank the Plank band tonight at 厂耻谤谤别测鈥檚 White Hart Pub, among the first bars in the area to feature live music, post-Covid shutdown.

鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)

At a news conference Monday (June 15), provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked about dancing in nightclubs and bars.

鈥淚t is going to be challenging because we know there are some things like dance floors that are not going to happen right now, as well as we know that singing, singing in a group, can be a very dangerous thing for this virus,鈥� Henry said.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen that in a number of places around the world, including recent examples in the States south of us where singing groups in churches, even with physical distancing, have led to transmission of cases, and singing in other situations as well. So those are all things we need to work through, and I know Worksafe is working with the industry to come up with some reasonable guidance for that.鈥�

Restaurants and pubs across the province were allowed to reopen to dine-in guests more than three weeks ago, as part of Phase Two in B.C.鈥檚 Restart Plan. Last Thursday (June 11), , allowing restaurant and pub operators to determine their capacity so long as guests are able to physically distance by at least two metres.

On Friday night (June 12) at the White Hart, the band Spank The Plank played a mix of classic rock songs for a few dozen people who paid , through .

鈥淚t鈥檚 a family-run business, and we want to make sure everyone is safe and follow the proper restrictions put in place by Worksafe,鈥� said McCauley, who books bands at the White Hart.

鈥淲e鈥檙e sold out tonight, pretty much, and we鈥檙e keeping it to around 42 people,鈥� Hart added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e doing advance ticket sales, and one of the shows sold out in an hour, the Tragically Hip tribute, Roadside Attraction (on June 27). Other bands have sold out in a couple of days, and some are selling out at the door. People can line up, six feet apart obviously, and if we have room then they can come in.鈥�

鈥� RELATED STORY: .

Other bands on the calendar this month include Robert Graves Band (June 19), March Hare (June 20), The Rattlers (June 24) and Rob Montgomery/Nadine States (June 30), plus karaoke Tuesdays.

Hart and his family took over operations of the former Hook and Ladder pub site last year.

鈥淲e changed the name to White Hart after our soccer team鈥檚 stadium, which is White Hart Lane,鈥� said Hart. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an ode to Tottenham (the soccer club in London). My family is from there, I have the tatttoo, we鈥檙e diehard fans. In September of 2019 we came up here from Bear Creek (Pub), just a better location, bigger. We renovated it, painted it with Tottenham colours, everything, got the sign up and yeah, we鈥檙e ready.鈥�

Spank the Plank drummer Wes Lawrie said it鈥檚 fun for the band to again perform 鈥渇or people who appreciate it.鈥�

Prior to Friday night at the White Hart, his last gig was set for March 16 at a venue in Whistler.

鈥淲e were just ready to leave my place, everything loaded, and we got the call to not bother, it was closed, everything was shut down,鈥� Lawrie recalled.

鈥淎s a musician this has been very tough, and just very different,鈥� he added. 鈥淏ut it looks like we鈥檙e getting going again, and we鈥檙e hearing about other gigs happening at some places, so I鈥檓 sure we鈥檒l be playing again soon. This is definitely something I haven鈥檛 experienced before.鈥�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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