Perspex screens, return of the snug and death of the dancefloor – Laura Lynott finds out what measures bars are hoping to implement

1 Food could become more of a focus than drink as publicans weigh up the risk of alcohol and social distancing.

2 Perspex or protective screens/barriers dividing pub-goers from each other and from staff. Some bars are working on making these design-friendly.

3 A return of pub snugs or ‘confession boxes’ to allow social distancing.

4 The days of standing at the bar are gone. It’s table service and remaining seated during your night out.

5 People will be restricted from socialising with groups they haven’t entered pubs with and this rule will likely be enforced with security staff ejecting anyone who doesn’t abide.

6 Some pubs will scrap smoking areas as they won’t allow sufficient space, while others will have sufficient room but will limit numbers standing outside.

7 Some bars may install a traffic-light system at toilets to let the public know when the lavatory is free – reducing numbers using the toilet at one time.

8 Staff and customers’ temperatures will be taken to ensure no one enters pubs withafever.

9 The death of live music and dancing areas, as social distancing would be an impossibility, some publicans believe.

10 Apps will be rolled out for customers to book tables, as a measure to control numbers entering the pub.

11 Pub doors will be managed to ensure limited numbers enter. Maitre d’s will show people to tables.

12 Waiting staff will wear PPE and one waiter will take orders while another clears plates.

13 Food orders to be made on apps and paid for via contactless payments.

14 Tables will be sanitised after every customer. Menus will be disposable or cleaned regularly.

15 Some pubs will restrict table seating times to around 90 minutes to allow others to book a table on an app.

16 Some pubs may introduce take-out

areas to extend people’s nights out.

17 Hands-free door handles will be introduced to help customers avoid touching the same surfaces.

18 A maximum of six people to a table.

19 Customers will use hand sanitiser before entry and high-grade sanitiser will be introduced for staff to avoid damage to hands with regular usage.

20 The pub will become a place where families and close friends enjoy leisure time, especially around food. The days of meeting strangers and having the ‘craic’ will be gone.