‘Everyone’s super excited’

● Our pubs, restaurants and hotels speak out as they look forward to welcoming back customers in the coming days ● Safety measures put in place at venues ahead of reopening

Pubs, restaurants and hotels all over the Horsham district are preparing to reopen.

The way was cleared for more businesses to reopen from Saturday (July 4) after last week’s announcement about a further easing of lockdown restrictions, which will see the distancing rule relaxed.

Our local venues have been hard at work ensuring customers are safe when they return.

Bill Collison, founder of Bill’s restaurants will be reopening in Lewes this weekend, with plans to reopen soon in Horsham, Eastbourne, Brighton, and Chichester.

He said: “We are only opening six Bill’s at the moment because we want to do it properly. We are going to do our best. All of us are working flat out to get this business back to where it was and improve it.”

There will be new safety measures in place – such as one-metre distancing and customers and staff being temperature-checked on arrival.

“It’s just to give people that comfort of knowing we are making an effort,” said Bill, “That’s a major thing.

“We had to try and protect everyone and make sure the business gets back to normal as quickly as we can, while following government guidelines.”

And he added: “In adversity our local customers have supported us through thick and thin. Sussex is the most wonderful place. It’s got the Downs, it’s got the sea, it’s got the hills and the forest.”

South Lodge Hotel in Lower Beedingis due to reopen on July 9.

It is part of the Exclusive Hotels group, which confirmed it is reopening its hotels in a ‘phased approach’, and South Lodge will be among the first, with others following later.

Managing director Danny Pecorelli said South

Lodge guests from July 9 will also have access to the hotel’s hair salon with manicures and pedicures available.

“We will gradually open further facilities as and when we are able to do so,” he said.

He added: “We are blessed with rural properties with fantastic access by car and when we started to map how ‘physical distancing’ will look, we quickly reminded ourselves dining and relaxation experiences needn’t be restricted by four walls.”

He said all the company’s hotels had multiple lounges, bar areas and restaurant spaces along with terraces, gardens and lawns.

He said lockdown had enabled them ‘to really focus on how we offer a safe haven’ for holiday breaks, get togethers and meetings.

Staff had been adapting procedures so that people feel ‘as safe as at home’.

Tristan Mason, owner of Restaurant Tristan in Horsham’s East Street, said the popular venue plans to reopen on July 11.

He said: “It’s been a long time coming. We have got some new ideas and a few new things we’re going to offer to our customers.

“Everyone’s super excited to get back on board.”

Bookings are now being accepted for the town centre venue from July 11, which Tristan said is not going to rush its reopening.

He added: “I want to give it that extra week to make sure everything is going to be absolutely perfect.

“Everything’s going to just be absolutely immaculate.

“We have got a brilliant clientele base who have supported us over the years and I’m sure they can’t wait to come back.”