Hospitality bosses: Do visit us from glorious 12th as we reopen for business
OUTDOOR SPACES ARE WAITING TO WELCOME CUSTOMERS ONCE MORE
PUB and restaurant bosses in Burton have issued a plea to people to come out and support them as they reopen for business from Monday.
They are looking forward to welcoming customers back from April 12, when lockdown rules will be relaxed as part of the Government’s roadmap for exiting the pandemic.
From Monday they can serve customers again in outdoor settings such as beer gardens at pubs. Nonessential retail shops can also reopen after being shut since the beginning of January during the third national lockdown.
Dave Morrish, manager of the Anglesey Arms in Stretton, has 220 people booked for Monday and feels customers need to support publicans, by respecting the situation and coming out responsibly.
The 44-year-old, who lives in Burton, said: “The past months have been very tough and all I want to say to members of the public is to support your pubs and work with them rather than against them.
“In preparation for Monday, I have been sorting out the beer garden, and our maximum capacity is 250 people, with the correct social distancing measure in place.
“Our opening times are 11am to
11pm and there are rules and regulations for customers to follow once arriving at the site.
“Once again we will be operating a table service system where you can also download our app to make service easier, there will also be a one way system in operation for the customers to follow and track & trace will need to be done upon arrival at the host station.
“I do believe the easing of restrictions will encourage people come out, and I am confident people will be careful and not take liberties as no one wants to go back to square one.”
The guidelines state that hospitality venues can serve people outdoors only at the moment and this time round people can meet just for a drink - no need to have to buy food as was the case when pubs reopened last time.
Outdoors refers to private gardens and any other outdoor space, which includes beer gardens, cafes or restaurants with outdoor seating spaces.
Shaid Hussain, owner of Cafe Zen, in
High Street, Burton, said: “It’s a great opportunity to open our doors again and I am looking forward to seeing my customers back again. My customers are like my family and it will be very nice to see them and share some conversation with them. “I am confident we will get people coming into town, I think a lot of people will want to come out and experience socialising again, and of course it will be something a lot of people haven’t done for a while, but I do feel slowly we will get more people out and about.
“With the weather improving, I feel it will make a difference and I am hoping we don’t have any rain and the customers can enjoy being sat outside and not worry about the weather.
“My message to my customers would be to come out and support us, things have not been easy and we need your support more than ever.
“During the time we have been closed, I have spent a lot of time refurbishing the interior of the café, and hopefully when we can welcome our customers back inside on May 17, they will enjoy the new look.
Stephen Carty, landlord of the Railway Inn in Swadlincote, is getting ready to reopen on Monday.
The 39-year-old said: “The plans for opening have been put in place and it’s now all about the customers and making them feel as comfortable as possible.
“I would recommend people to come out, enjoy themselves and don’t be afraid, we have followed all the government guidelines and issued all the security methods to make sure we are ready,
“I feel like things are looking up, we are on the right track and we do need the support of our customers..
“We have all missed the social aspect of life and are all in this together.”
Muhammed Ashfaq, owner of Glamorous Hair and Beauty, a beauty supply store in Station Street, Burton, said: “I can’t wait to open up again. “It has been long overdue and I am confident my customers will return.
“I think business will be slow to begin with. People will still be wary of the virus and hopefully when the time is right we will see more people coming out. We just have to be patient.”
I am hoping we don’t have any rain and the customers can enjoy being sat outside.
Shaid Hussain