The normally bustling Crawfordsburn village is deserted for the first time on a Saturday evening

This is a deserted Crawfordsburn in Co Down at dusk yesterday.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Mar 2020, 18:38 BST
Updated 22nd Mar 2020, 19:30 BST
A deserted Crawfordsburn village in Co Down at dusk on Saturday March 21 2020, a time in the week when the temprorarily closed Old Inn would always be getting busy for the eveningA deserted Crawfordsburn village in Co Down at dusk on Saturday March 21 2020, a time in the week when the temprorarily closed Old Inn would always be getting busy for the evening
A deserted Crawfordsburn village in Co Down at dusk on Saturday March 21 2020, a time in the week when the temprorarily closed Old Inn would always be getting busy for the evening

Normally the village would be crammed with parked cars and hard to navigate on a Saturday evening due to people visiting the popular Old Inn for drinks, meals, accommodation or weddings.

The hotel, which is said to date back to 1614 and was put up for sale recently, has had to close due to coronavirus for the first time in the 38 years its owners have run the venue.

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A noticed pinned to the front of the hotel read: “Regrettably, due to Corona Virus COVID-19 we are forced to temporarily suspend business. Nobody, including government at this stage is able to determine when trading normally might occur.”

Jack McKinnell, an A Level student who is now out of school due to coronavirus, serving at Mace Brunswick in Bangor West, behind a counter with protective screens and a sign to keep distance, on Saturday evening March 21 2020Jack McKinnell, an A Level student who is now out of school due to coronavirus, serving at Mace Brunswick in Bangor West, behind a counter with protective screens and a sign to keep distance, on Saturday evening March 21 2020
Jack McKinnell, an A Level student who is now out of school due to coronavirus, serving at Mace Brunswick in Bangor West, behind a counter with protective screens and a sign to keep distance, on Saturday evening March 21 2020

The notice, signed by the hotel’s chair Danny Rice, continued: “We have a ‘soft open’ date of 6th April which at this moment appears optimistic, but we will take each week as it comes, along with the rest of the nation, and call ahead to our bookings beyond that date should we feel re-opening is unlikely.”

The message further explained that the hotel had never in recent decades had to take such a step. “In our 38 years of ownership we have never experienced such a dramatic event affecting so many. We thank you for your kind words in the last few days as we regretully had to cancel various family events.

“It is with a heavy heart that we close our doors, something we have taken great pride in preventing through all kinds of financial and meteorological storms!”

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Meanwhile, two miles down the road towards Bangor on Saturday evening, Jack McKinnell, an A level student, was manning the counter at Mace Brunswick, behind a protective screen and sign advising customers to keep their distance.

The pupil of Our Lady and St Patrick’s, Knock said he and fellow students had “mixed feelings” about the early schools closure.