PUBS across the county have been gearing up to reopen their doors to customers on Saturday for what will be the first time in more than three months.
A raft of new measures will have to be implemented by those choosing to reopen on July 4, being dubbed as Super Saturday, as the Government gives the green light to large parts of the hospitality industry in England.
When pubs, bars and restaurants reopen, staff will likely wear face coverings, and venues should keep a record of customers for 21 days to help the NHS trace any outbreaks.
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Ledbury’s Feathers Hotel has been one of the venues planning to welcome back customers on Saturday with comprehensive new measures in place.
General manager Will Silver said: “It will be a momentous moment. Customers arriving at the Feathers will find an information notice setting out the nine-point safety procedure now in operation.”
As the Government ditches the two-metre social distancing rule on Saturday, bosses at the Feathers will still be encouraging people to follow the new “one-metre plus” recommendation.
Screens have also been installed in the 16th-century building in the town’s High Street, as well as a new phone app for customers to order food and drink.
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In the Golden Valley, the Dog Inn in Ewyas Harold has a 19-point document detailing how they plan to keep people safe.
Landlady Nicola Summerton said: “We are almost ready to reopen with lots of Covid-19 precautions in place.
“We don’t have much outside space, but we have made use of all the inside spaces.”
Staff have undergone new training and cleaning enhanced, customers are being asked to respect the guidelines which include a new, lower, capacity of 30.
It comes as people in England are expected to spend £210 million in pubs on the July 4 weekend as they rush back after the coronavirus pandemic, according to new research.
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While there is no date set for pubs to reopen in Wales, new research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicts about 6.5 million pub trips could be made this weekend, around 1.5 million more than a normal weekend.
However, it stressed that a majority of the population “remain cautious” over a return to bars and pubs.
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