Pubs finally reopen – but expect a different experience!
IT’S been nearly four months since the people of Carmarthenshire had a pint at their favourite pub, but that wait has come to an end - sort of.
While people aren’t able to have a drink inside their local pub, they are able to outside, as part of the ongoing easing of lockdown restrictions in Wales.
From Monday pubs in Wales were finally be allowed to reopen.
International Relations Minister Eluned Morgan announced more than a week ago that Welsh pubs could start a phased reopening, with First Minister Mark Drakeford confirming the news on Friday.
The Welsh Government has also confirmed that pubs will be allowed to open indoors from August 3 “provided the reopening of outdoor hospitality goes well, and the state of the (Covid-19) virus allows”.
Not all pubs will be serving pints outdoors from this week, with some unable to due to a lack of outdoor space and others deciding not to.
Brains, for example, has said it will wait until it can offer a “full reopening”, while Wetherspoons has also confirmed it will not reopen any of its Welsh pubs this week.
There are plenty that are reopening, however, and one of those is the Cresselly Arms in the village of Pontargothi, between the towns of Carmarthen and Llandeilo.
The forced closure of pubs throughout the country in March hit every business, but for the Cresselly Arms the force of the blow was particularly devastating, for it meant yet another period without trade.
Storm Callum and Storm Dennis hit this corner of Carmarthenshire in the past two years with such ferocity that they both flooded the pub inside and out.
The pub has suffered flooding three times in total since 2018, most recently in February this year, just a month before the biggest storm of all: coronavirus.
But later this week, the Cresselly Arms will reopen and welcome back customers.
“We have had a risk assessment carried out and we’re ready to go,” said landlady Amanda Philpin, who runs the pub with her partner Gary Trickett.
Going for a pint will be very different at the Cresselly Arms for the foreseeable future.
Firstly, nobody will be allowed inside except to use the toilet, which will be available on a ‘one in, one out’ basis and will cater for everyone, with disabled access and baby changing facilities.
Once in the garden, customers can then chose an empty table – there are between 15 and 20 of them – providing they stay at least two metres apart from other individuals and/or groups, a process made easier by two-metre markings that have been laid out. Tables can be reserved in advance or taken on arrival, space permitting.
Each table will have instructions on how to order your drinks and/or food, ensuring that customers don’t have to head to the bar area themselves.
This is made possible via a new ordering service called Who’s Next, devised to allow people to order from their location in the garden.
You won’t actually have to download an app, just scan a QR code which will be on the table, bringing up a menu. You then select what you want, and how you want to pay – card or cash – and your order will be sent to the bar and brought to you.
Card payments will be made via the usual contactless machine, while cash can be left on a tray and collected by staff (who will be wearing gloves).
Drinks will be poured into plastic cups and takeaway meals will continue to be served, to be eaten on the premises or at home, with cutlery and sachets located at around four separate stations in the garden.
“Our main priority is people’s safety,” said Amanda.
“Everybody is welcome here and we really want it to work, so we just need people to be alert and sensible.”
The Cresselly Arms will open from tomorrow at 4pm.