Birmingham wine bar appeals to cutomers for help as coronavirus hits trade

Birmingham wine bar Loki is appealing to customers for donations after revealing it has had to cut staff hours after a downturn in trade due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement on Twitter, Loki said: “There’s no easy way of saying this but I’m worried – we’re all worried. Since 2012, we have worked SO hard to build Loki Wine into the business that I am so proud to have been involved with from the beginnings, back in the days when Phil and I were running around like headless chickens working 15 hours a day, seven days a week.

“I could never have imagined that I’d be sat here now appealing to our customers past, present and future, and asking you all to help us save our business, to save the community we have all built together.”

Loki, which has venues in Great Western Arcade in Birmingham city centre and Edgbaston and was founded by Phil Innes, has set up a GoFundMe page to try and raise cash for its staff fund.

The statement added: “After a week of doing my best to reassure staff who have come to me in tears, terrified of losing their jobs and their homes, and telling them it’ll be okay… when I’m worried myself, I’ve just just had to inform them that whilst we’re doing everything we can to make sure that we all have a job when this all finally levels out, we have no choice now but to cut their hours.”

Loki says it will remain open and is urging people to come along to its venues but not to attend if they are showing any coronavirus symptoms.

The company also says it will offer free, same-day delivery and wine consultations via phone.

The statement continued: “This has been a very difficult decision to make, to ask you, our customers, to help our staff, but during times like this we must put our pride to one side and try and do the best we can to help others.”