"Boris Johnson will announce next week that the two-metre rule will be relaxed from July 4 and that pubs, restaurants, cafés and attractions can reopen as he attempts to revive the economy. Guidance drawn up by the government and the hospitality industry will also be published as Britain embarks on a “new normal”.
Separately, ministers will publish legislation next week to encourage an “al fresco revolution”. Every pub, bar and restaurant will be automatically entitled to serve alcohol for people to drink on the pavement and in the street.
The prime minister said yesterday that coronavirus was now “diminishing among us all” and social-distancing measures would be eased imminently. Britain’s “Covid-alert” level was downgraded from four to three in light of the “steady decrease” in cases. It means that while the virus is still “in general circulation” there can be a “gradual relaxation of restrictions and social-distancing measures”.
The hospitality measures seen by The Times are detailed below.
Pubs
There will be limits to the number of people allowed into pubs with markings on the floor to ensure social distancing.
Customers will be discouraged from ordering pints at the bar and drinks will be delivered to tables, spaced widely apart, instead. If customers do hang around the bar, they may be asked to move on. After finishing a round, it will no longer be polite to return used glasses, which will instead be collected from tables.
Waiters will clean bar tops, door handles and fruit machines at least every hour and there will be regular patrols of pub gardens to make sure inebriated guests continue to observe social-distancing rules. Children’s play areas are likely to remain out of action.
Restaurants
Owners will be required to place strict limits on the number of people they allow in to ensure social distancing is observed, with queues forming outside. They will be encouraged to use reservations to stagger bookings.
Upon arrival, tables, spaced widely apart, will appear surprisingly bare, as napkins and cutlery will only be brought out with food. Laminated menus will be replaced with single-use, disposable menus and condiments will be served in sachets on request.
Waiters may also make use of menu boards but there will be fewer options than usual as chefs will try to minimise cross-contamination of ingredients. Plates will be cleared by staff wearing gloves, or at the very least, waiters will be asked to wash their hands each time they serve a different table.
Payment with contactless card will be encouraged. Buffets are unlikely to reopen any time soon.
Hotels
Doormen will remind new arrivals that they must observe social distancing and receptionists will take a couple of steps back when guests check in.
Porters will still be able to carry bags to guests’ rooms but will have to leave them outside. Rather than taking the lift, people will be encouraged to climb the stairs.
Even if hotel restaurants reopen, visitors could still be urged to use room service. Food will be delivered on trays left outside in the corridors that staff will regularly collect. If a guest falls ill while staying at a hotel, they will be asked to self-isolate in their room and meals will be sent up on disposable plates.
The room will then be cordoned off for 72 hours after the person has recovered with a sign saying “Out of action” on the door. The guidance for hostels in the leaked document is yet to be developed."
And I usually try to avoid busy screenings anyway.
www.thetimes.co.uk
