‘It’s great to be back’
Pubs and customers say cheers to a successful first weekend as police say thanks to all for a ‘responsible return to business’
Owners of a village pub and their customers said ‘It’s good to be back’ after reopening on Saturday.
It was the first time in months that pub-goers got the chance of a pint at The Tipsy Fox in Southwater - and they were loving it.
It was garden-service only, for the time being, but it didn’t deter anyone from enjoying a new taste of freedom since lockdown in March.
Co-owner Andy Keeley said: “It was really good to be back, albeit with a one-way system and all the cautiousness. We were reasonably busy but there was no craziness to it.”
Some other pubs in and around Horsham also reopened on Saturday, but others will phase reopening over the next few weeks. Many will operate initially on reduced hours.
Horsham District Council said it was prioritising support for hospitality businesses to ensure that they are able to provide a good customer experience, whilst continuing to meet their safety obligations to fight the spread of
Covid-19.
Cabinet Member for Community Matters and Wellbeing Cllr Tricia Youtan said: “Whilst we are really pleased that our hospitality businesses can at last re-open, we must remain mindful that they do so in as safe and secure a manner as possible, for both the traders themselves and their staff, as well as their customers.
“Please do follow the safety guidance we are making available and if you have any queries, do contact our environmental health specialists.”