£11m to reopen Wetherspoons pubs

Wetherspoon’s will spend an initial £11 million making its 875 pubs Covid-19 secure ahead of reopening, including screens at bars and tables.

The chain said each pub will hire two full-time workers to regularly clean surfaces and touch points throughout, with more employed in larger pubs.

Laying out the future plans for bringing customers back through its doors, bosses added all staff will be provided with gloves, masks and protective eyewear for those who want to wear it.

In a detailed update, Wetherspoon’s added: “There will be an average 10 hand sanitiser dispensers around the pub, including at the entrance for customers and staff to use.”

On opening again, bosses said they have been speaking extensively to staff, suppliers, contractors and trade body UK Hospitality for guidance, including 2,500 suggestions from workers.

Founder and chairman Tim

Martin faced heavy criticism as lockdown was being introduced.

He first said he would withhold salaries from staff, before reversing the decision, called for a relaxed lockdown similar to the Netherlands so his pubs could keep trading and warned suppliers may not be paid either.

Since then, Wetherspoon’s has revealed the business rates holiday announced by the Government saved the firm £60 million and shareholders were tapped up for £141m as the lockdown took hold. Mr Martin’s wealth has also fallen by around £230m as shares in Wetherspoon’s, of which he owns 32 per cent, have fallen by more than 40 per cent since the start of the year.

An exact date for reopening remains unclear, although Government guidance for pubs is to plan for welcoming back customers in July. It is understood there are ongoing discussions between ministers and the industry.