One-metre distance rule would help pubs reopen

● Boss of Marston’s chain claims guideline should be reviewed

Cutting the social distancing rule to one metre from two would allow most bars to emerge from Covid-19 lockdown, the boss of pub and restaurant giant Marston’s has told The Press and Journal.

Chief executive Ralph Findlay said, with an alteration of the regulation, reopening the firm’s 1,400 premises in England from the July 4 date suggested by the UK Government was a “realistic” target.

No timescale has yet been set for easing lockdown restrictions on the hospitality industry in Scotland, where Marston’s has around 20 pub, restaurant and lodge operations, including the Harbour Springs in Peterhead and Three Witches in Inverness.

Mr Findlay said the company was “in discussions” with the Scottish Government on the issue.

He added he believed the lockdown was now “fragmenting” in England, mainly because of hot spring weather.

His comments came days after it was announced Wolverhampton-based Marston’s, which employs around 14,000 people, was merging its brewing operations with Danish giant Carlsberg in a joint venture valued at £780 million.

Mr Findlay said: “The UK Government is working towards opening from July 4, although the governments in Scotland and Wales have not set dates yet. We are making huge preparations towards that.

“The difficulty we have to face is that for businesses to reopen they need to do it with two-metre social distancing. That, for me, is something that has to be reviewed.

“We have all seen that supermarkets are good at queues outside, but it is different when we get inside and it would be the same for pubs.

“With one-metre social distancing, reopening becomes possible for most pubs.”

He added: “We’ve been in discussion with the

UK Government and in Scotland, and there is a huge amount of dialogue going on.

“It is one the politicians have to decide on, but it is hugely important as there are three million people employed in the sector.”

RULES OF THE HOUSE: Huge preparations are going on to ready pubs and restaurants for reopening with the current two-metre distancing