More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A pub manager has lamented the lack of customers in a Covid-19 cover of Billy Joel's Piano Man.
The comical rendition was performed by Lee Sansum behind the bar of The Royal Oak in River, where he is a manager.
Mr Sansum has been spending the lockdown with his girlfriend Elizabeth Covatti, and the parody came about as a way of tackling the tedium.
The 34-year-old said: "I was just bored really, missing the punters - living in an empty pub is pretty lonely.
"I thought Piano Man was fitting, it mentions the locals staggering in but of course coming in. Plus it's just a good song."
He said he's not had any singing training, but admitted: "I like a bit of karaoke every now and again but that's about it."
Singing's not the only thing the couple have been doing to enrich their time during quarantine.
As the stored beer neared its use by date he put what was left on a table outside and invited people to give a donation in return for it, an effort that raised £90 for the Dover Athletics Club.
He noted: "We've also done car washes in the car park for the club, I'm the chairman of the supporters club so it's very close to my heart.
"Overall we've raised £300 for them during the lockdown, which is great because they really need support during this time."
He and his girlfriend have also been looking after dogs for key workers while they're at work.
One of the highlights of the last couple of months was a mini-'getaway' the pair took.
Lee said: "My girlfriend's been working from home, so she booked a week off and we camped in the beer garden.
"We did our shopping for the week and didn't leave the pub at all after that. We just barbecued and made the best of the situation."
The creative crooner has decided not to shave until he re-opens the pub, perhaps with a tonic and gin in hand.
