June 4th, 2020
Barge East explains how Harkness Screens have prepared them for reopening
Two weeks ago, Harkness Screens installed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at East London restaurant, Barge East. Established two years ago, Barge East has become a favourite for Londoners and visitors to the city alike, a No1 rated restaurant in London according to Tripadvisor 2019/2020.
Having to shut its doors in accordance to government advice in late March, Barge East owner Robert ‘Blandy’ Bland jumped at the opportunity to have some of Harkness’ PPE installed on the early 20th century Dutch Tjalk.
As a result, the restaurant has been able to restart its takeaway operation sooner than planned, alongside providing NHS keyworkers with lunches and donating much needed supplies to Bow food bank.
“Because of the screen, we have been able to open up earlier than planned,” Blandy said, “We have been able to bring our staff back from furlough. They are now earning their full wage again, but in a safe environment, so that’s amazing for us, just to be able to start trading again.
“Many business’ have had no option but to close completely during the Coronavirus pandemic, whilst others have adapted quickly through change and innovation. Harkness Group are a great example of this, they changed what they usually do to help other businesses, which is a testament to them.”
Having restored the 119-year-old Dutch Tjalk after its purchase in Holland, Barge East is docked close to the London Stadium, at the heart of the London 2012 Olympic Park. Chef, Ryan Craig, and businessman, Stuart ‘Tommo’ Thomson, are Blandy’s two business partners and launched the Keep us Afloat campaign when the restaurant initially had to close when Covid-19 hit British shores.
“We have built up this reputation as somewhere in London that is great for food, a great experience,” Blandy said, “I think sometimes when you have a bit of novelty restaurant, the experience can overshadow the food. We don’t really have that. It is a complete package; great food, but in a really unique dining experience.
“When Covid-19 kicked in and we were told to close, our biggest priority was supporting our staff because they are the reason we are in the position we are in and we wanted to do everything we could in this time to support them and make sure we had the same team when we came to the other side. That was critical for us.”
Having had barrier screens installed at key areas at Barge East, where customers and staff are most likely to be in contact, the barrier screens are made from PVC, the same material used to make cinema screens by Harkness. Having seen the product himself, Blandy believes that the implementation of the PPE at his restaurant will now mean that he is able to effectively reopen in the coming weeks.
Harkness Protect products are available worldwide and have a number of uses in environments where public health is paramount. From restaurants to cinemas to temporary hospital facilities, learn more about how Harkness Screens can protect you by emailing a.emmott@harkness-screens.com.
You can follow Barge East on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Harkness Screens
Harkness Screens™ is the world’s leading screen technology company, specialising in the design and manufacture of projection screens and supporting technologies for cinema and live events. From single-screen independent theatres to large multiplexes to large format immersive theatre experiences or live events, Harkness supplies thousands of screens every year helping provide outstanding presentation experiences to audiences around the world.
With global reach, Harkness is regarded as the world leader in cinema and has screens in more cinemas worldwide than any other manufacturer. With its industry leading 2D and 3D screen brands (Perlux HiWhite, Clarus XC and Spectral) along with an innovative range of presentation monitoring tools, digital surveying services and suite of cinema design and specification apps, Harkness continues to lead the way in screen technology for cinema.
Founded in 1929, Harkness has manufacturing facilities in the USA, UK, France, India and China and combines unrivalled experience with the latest technology and production methods to provide innovative solutions to the company’s key markets. For more information, visit the Harkness Screens web page at www.harkness-screens.com.
You can follow Harkness Screens on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Email Media@harkness-screens.com for any media enquiries.
