The Elephant and Barrel Franschhoek needs your help!

To all our Elephant & Barrel friends and family

Since the 20th March this year, we as a business have been living a literal nightmare. For any of you that have been to the pub know and understand that my staff are my family and the love we share as a team is something you don't find very often. The impact of COVID-19, and the social distancing which will become a way of life for months to come, has had a devastating effect on the lives of not only myself but every member of staff. With the new level of restrictions (especially regarding the sale of alcohol in a social environment), the likelihood of us opening in the next few weeks is doubtful. This has a huge impact on all of us, especially my staff who at this point, without any income coming in, are not being paid a salary, but relying on food parcels and help wherever we can get it. Hopefully UIF will soon start making the payments they deserve, which will lift some of the pressure they are experiencing.

The reality is that the virus could destroy our business permanently, which would leave myself along with all my staff without jobs.

The Elephant and Barrel is my life, it is my passion and over the years we have built it up to be, not just any pub, its a home away from home, where all the staff know your name, they know your drink.......they know you. It's "our" pub, where we forget about our stresses, we meet up with friends, to laugh, chat and dance...to be free and to make memories that last a lifetime.

This is probably the hardest decision I have ever made, but believe it is time to put my pride in my pocket and ask for help, without which we might never open our doors or switch the lights back on. We are the only pub that stays open till 2am, and we support local South African bands who play live every Friday night (their livelihood also relies on us to be open), we have amazing pub meals at brilliant prices and drink specials that boggle the mind, with the biggest and best pub events in Franschhoek, but in order to keep your favorite place open, we now need all the help we can get from you.

Please assist us by making a donation, if you are in a position to do so, and if not if you could share as far and wide as possible we would greatly appreciate it.

All funds received will go towards staff payments, suppliers, utilities etc which will give us chance at re-opening our doors to you.

I am very aware that we are not unique in what we are going through and for that reason, if you cannot donate, just by sharing this post you might lead us to someone who can.

We pray that with your help, we will once again hear your laughter and see your dance moves as we listen to one of our local bands doing what they do best for you, while you enjoy one of our great meals and quench your thirst with an ice-cold drink. We thank you for all the support over the years.

The Elephant and Barrel has been hit very hard, but with your help we can ensure we don't become a statistic of the COVID-19 destruction.

I thank you with all that I am, for every donation or share that we receive.

Go well, stay safe

Sandi