City Pub Group outlines post-lockdown opening plans

According to the Evening Standard​​​, the group's executive chairman, Clive Watson, said the company, has drawn up a number of plans to start trading as soon as the Prime Minister gives the green light.

In England, Government guidance currently states that some hospitality businesses could reopen as early as 4 July​​​​, and there have been a number of calls from inside the industry for this to include pubs and restaurants with outside space. 

In order to maximise the use of its beer gardens, the 47-strong group will look to set up temporary bars outside.

Staff will take orders using contactless payments; and customers will collect orders from an outside collection point.

Recyclable plastic glasses, paper plates and wooden cutlery will be used; and each pub will be serving a limited food and drinks menu.

Tables will be spaced out to comply with social distancing guidelines; and staff will wear gloves and masks.

Watson added that customers will be encouraged to pre book tables, and pre-order food and drinks to help avoid queues and speed-up service.

“As pubs start to reopen it’s important that this is done with the safety of staff and customers being of paramount importance,” he told the Evening Standard​.

“We will only open pubs where we can guarantee this safety.

“Pubs are an important part of our everyday lives. By being responsible when we reopen we can hopefully get back to some kind of normality as quickly as possible.”