BEERS AND POTTY PPE APPY DAYS! Smartphone orders and outside drinking key to pubs re-opening
CORONA CRISIS
A 90-YEARold woman who has spent two months climbing her stairs to the equivalent height of the Highland mountain Suilven is now less than 10 flights from reaching the “top”. Margaret Payne said: “I feel physically and mentally fitter.”
DRINKERS will soon be back at the boozer – and ordering pints via a smartphone app.
The system is just one of the measures that could allow pubs and bars to re-open on July 4.
Customers will have to sit outdoors, be served at a table only, and landlords will patrol beer gardens to check drinkers are maintaining social distance.
It is part of PM Boris Johnson’s plans to relax the two-metre rule from next month, which will mean pubs, restaurants and cafés can open again.
Ben Criddle, landlord at the Inn On The Shore in Torpoint, Cornwall, said:
“We were obviously happy to hear that we would possibly be opening soon with social distancing.
“The conditions that have been set are somewhat difficult due to the fact that we are a large pub right on the beach with lots of outside area which is hard to police. On the other hand, we are fortunate to have the space that we do as this boosts our capacity within the regulations. “The app is something we have thought about and will almost certainly put in place. “At the end of the day it is for the good of everyone and we hope these systems work and we can get our pub back to the way it should be.”
New laws will mean every pub, bar or restaurant will be automatically entitled to serve alcohol and set up outdoor seating for drinkers on pavements and streets.
Socialising outdoors is encouraged as people are less likely to contract the virus in the open air.
Not all punters welcomed the news. Jim McMahon said: “Using an app to order a pint at my little local pub.
“Doesn’t sound like this will work at all. It has very little outdoor space. I don’t think it will bother opening at all.”
But another, Joe Brace, joked: “Why are people moaning about having to order a pint via an app? I would learn Jedi just to order and drink a Stella again.”
In restaurants, napkins and cutlery will be brought out with food and not before.
Gyms are expected to open later in the year with machines well spaced out.