We’re eager to welcome people back to the bar
Pubs gearing up for next week’s full reopening
THREE popular Southsea pubs are celebrating being back in business — and are gearing up to reopening properly.
The One Eyed Dog and The Honest Politician, both in Elm Grove, and Porters, in Albert Road, are welcoming back customers after a particularly tough few months which saw them forced to close due to coronavirus restrictions.
It has been extremely hard for all businesses in the hospitality industry over the past 18 months, with pubs and restaurants being unable to open.
Then they were only able to have customers outdoors and now they can have customers indoors but only that which accounts for 50 per cent of their indoor occupancy due to social distancing.
Due to restricted outdoor space, The One Eyed Dog, The Honest Politician and Porters – all owned and run by Joe Collis – were only able to officially welcome customers back into their pubs as of May 17.
But with the pubs are back open, the public are being urged to support them.
Tony Armitage, 32, who has been the manager of The One Eyed Dog for the past six years and lives in Eastney, said: ‘Overall we have been really pleased with business since reopening, of course we would love for the current restrictions to be lifted, but only if it is safe to do so, just so then we could increase how many people can welcome inside our pub.
‘Currently business is the best it possibly could be, and we are doing everything we can do to be Covid safe, which all our customers have been really supportive and on board with.
‘In particular our customers love our happy hour, which takes place 4pm until 7pm everyday where drinks such as our beers, cocktails, ciders and wines are discounted.
‘We are open from 4pm until 1am Sunday to Thursday, and 4pm until 3.30am Friday and Saturdays - so there is time for everyone to come visit!’
All three pubs are known for having their own individual attractive facilities for customers – such as The One Eyed Dog’s secret garden or The Honest Politician’s pool tables.
In addition, Porters has also recently launched its food for delivery on UberEats and Deliveroo, giving those who have been unable to visit them in person an alternative.
With the rules set to change again on July 19, all three pubs are looking forward to a return to normality.