The ‘unexpected blow’ has had a severe impact
The Quadrant in Clifton
A neighbourhood pub says it is struggling to survive after a council blunder dealt an “unexpected blow”. The Quadrant in Clifton Village has been without working toilets for more than a month, since council contractors accidentally drilled into the roof of its underground bathrooms.
The independently owned bar on Princess Victoria Street has since been forced to rely on Portaloo toilets provided by the council, and said it has experienced a significant drop in custom.
Owner and manager Tom Rowell said the impact on the business had been “severe”. Although it is hoped the loss can eventually be recovered via insurance, that pay-out could come too late unless the pub can cover the shortfall in the meantime.
Mr Rowell has launched a Go Fund Me page to try to keep the pub open, writing: “Independent hospitality businesses have faced immense challenges over the past decade—first battling through the pandemic, and now navigating a relentless cost of living crisis. But recently, we’ve been hit by a devastating and unexpected blow.
“We’ve done everything possible to keep the pub running, and we’re incredibly grateful to our loyal customers for their patience and support during this time.” He said the council had admitted the mistake and promised to repair the damage, but had offered no time frame or emergency support.
The fundraising page added: “We simply cannot continue for more than a couple of weeks under these conditions. Bills, wages, and taxes still need to be paid—and the company credit card isn’t bottomless.
“Although compensation is expected via the council’s or their contractor’s insurance, the process could take months. That delay leaves us with an impossible gap in revenue that we cannot bridge alone.”
The Quadrant has been severely impacted by the council’s blunder(Image: The Quadrant/Facebook)
Bristol City Council has already apologised for the error, and pledged to repair the damage. However, the council did not respond to a question asking how long it would take for the vital work to be completed.
“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and are actively working with the business owner to rectify the situation as quickly as possible and with minimal disruption,” councillor Ed Plowden said in a statement last week.
“We accept that we need to put it right and have provided two Portaloos on site for The Quadrant customers to use until the remedy works have been completed.”
While he was confident The Quadrant would eventually recover their loss of earnings from the council, Mr Rowell said it might be too late by then. “We’ve experienced a 30–50% drop in weekly sales—far more than any small business can withstand.
“With narrow margins and little financial cushion, even a 10% loss can be critical,” he said. Mr Rowell, who has managed The Quadrant for 20 years, said the bar may only be able to survive for a couple of weeks without help.
He is seeking £20,000 via Go Fund Me to keep the business going. If and when the bar is successful in recovering compensation from the council or its contractors, the money will be donated to The Burnt Chef Project, a mental health charity.