PUBS, restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, cinemas and many other businesses and facilities across Herefordshire are preparing to welcome customers from next Saturday (July 4), after Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave them the green light to open.

The two-metre social distancing guideline has been relaxed to one-metre plus, meaning that people should stay one metre apart, while observing other precautions to reduce the risk of transmission.

However, the experience customers have from outlets will change with safety measures being enforced.

Greyhound Rugby Club are one of those opening their bar again on July 4 for visitors.

They will be introducing a one-way system for entry and exit to their premises.

Service will be through a small shutter area, with one person being served at a time and contactless payment is being encouraged.

Standing or sitting at the bar will not be permitted and hand sanitiser will be provided.

Restaurants will provide table service only, with contact between staff and customers also limited.

Herefordshire Council is working with the police to give free advice to bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

They are willing to visit premises and offer free technical advice as to how re-opening could be best achieved.

The council are also considering how planning rules can be initially relaxed to facilitate outdoor seating for the hospitality sector.

The news that hairdressers will open on July 4 was also welcome across the county for business owners and customers.

Safety measurers are also being introduced at outlets to protect customers and staff.

Opal Brown, owner and manager at the Hair Gallery in Bridge Street, Hereford, says that her and a junior apprentice will both be wearing masks and only dealing with one customer at a time.

They won’t be providing dry cuts and all hair will have to be washed before being cut.

Sanitiser will be used at all times, before, during and after hair cuts.

Libraries, community centres, bingo halls, cinemas, museums and galleries will be able to open.

But not all businesses are able to reopen, with nightclubs, bowling alleys, spas, swimming pools, indoor gyms and soft play centres remaining closed for the time being.

Despite being allowed to open, some businesses such as the Green Dragon Hotel, are waiting for trade to increase before opening their doors.

Julian Vaughan, managing director, says that his business is not planning on opening until the beginning of August.

“Everybody is different, but managing such a big property we can’t just reopen for people to come and have a drink on a Saturday night when the rest of the week there might be no other trade,” said Mr Vaughan.

“We are not going to jump on the bandwagon on July 4 as I don’t think there will be enough trade to make our business viable.

“I don’t think there will be enough demand for our product until people feel more confident and people are moving around.

“I’m sure the younger generation will come out and have a drink from July 4, and there are plenty of places for them that can open for one night and close most of the week. “Once we open we are then open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.”

The Green Dragon had a major refurbishment last year and was hoping for a booming year of trade.

But it was first affected by the flooding in February and then was forced to close due to Covid-19 in March.

“The impact to us has been huge, and financially it has been significant, said Mr Vaughan.

“We established ourselves ready for the summer and identified our audience, which has been taken away from us by the virus. Now we have to re-build that confidence in the trade.”