AN APPEAL from the Purple Turtle to support the 'night time economy' was met with a wave of support by residents, hoping to keep the independent bar alive.

On September 25, the Purple Turtle Bar, Gun Street, Reading, posted a call for support, following the announcements of pubs, bars and clubs having to shut at 10pm, made earlier this month.

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The post from the Purple Turtle's account read: "Shut and locked up by 10:00pm - this really is the straw to break a camel's back.

"If last night (September 24) is anything to go by, goodnight to the bars and late night venues throughout the UK.

"We can't manage six weeks, let alone six months, and I am sorry to say the scheme to keep staff employed is somewhat flawed for smaller companies like the Turtle.

"I understand everyone is feeling the pinch like a sledge hammer at the moment, and we are also trying to fight the COVID crisis, but without customers the industry is dead in the water.

"The only places left to get a drink apart from supermarkets who have been slowly chipping away at us for years, will be a Wetherspoons Pub - surely we need something different than that.

"I hate to to sound like we are begging, put the night time economy needs you now, The Purple Turtle needs you now.

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"Please support the independent town venues, Wetherspoons will always survive - we CAN'T."

In the following days after this post was made, the bar manager posted a statement to the page, thanking residents for their financial support, saying "the power of the internet is amazing".

Stuart McNaught, general manager, said: "Wow the power of the internet is amazing, when I posted yesterday about the state of the Turtle.

"I never imagined such a response, we have pledges of money, people wanting to set up crowd-funding, benefit nights and so much more, a customer wanted to come in and hand us money to pay the wages.

"I can't believe the generosity of the people from across the UK who have been touched by the Purple Turtle over the last 30 years, who refuse to see us fail.

"But we are not at the point break at the moment and do you really think with my team, my passion, and the best two bar owners in the world Danny & Greg we will ever not bounce back.

"Believe me, we will not FAIL and the Purple Turtle name will continue, Global recession, UK recession, we have beaten then in the past, and we aren't going to let this situation beat us either.

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"We have taken the COVID situation very seriously and are I would say the safest bar in town to drink in and the people will come.

"Thank you everyone for the support and here is for hoping we never need the generous financial support of the absolutely amazing people you all are."

For more information, visit facebook.com/purpleturtlereading.