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Coronavirus: How are pubs keeping customers safe? Coronavirus: How are pubs keeping customers safe?
(about 1 month later)
Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants are welcoming customers across the UK. Pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to stay open despite greater restrictions on social gatherings in England.
In England, Scotland and Wales these places can reopen indoors. However, pubs in Northern Ireland may only open indoors if they serve food, otherwise they will be allowed to sell alcohol outdoors. What are the rules for going out around the UK, and what do you have to do?
In Scotland, it is mandatory to provide table service. In England, indoor table service must be used "where possible", alongside further measures such as assigning a single staff member per table. What are the new rules in England?
Is it safe to go to the pub? People in England can meet in groups of no more than six from Monday, but pubs, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to stay open so long as these groups do not mingle with other groups at each venue.
Guidance has been issued in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures that pubs and restaurants must take to keep customers and staff safe. Table bookings of more than six will not be allowed.
They include: Hospitality businesses are now legally required to take customers' contact details so they can be traced if a potential outbreak is linked to the venue. Previously, they were advised to do so, but didn't have to officially.
Meanwhile, the Wetherspoons pub chain has said its staff will be provided with face coverings and protective eyewear and it will run a reduced food menu. Businesses can be fined if they take reservations of more than six, do not enforce social distancing or do not take customers' contact details.
Bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise will be replaced by individual sachets. Customers will also be encouraged to sit outside in pub gardens, while some indoor seating areas will be separated by plastic screens. What are the pub rules around the UK?
Social distancing has been reduced from 2m (6ft) to 1m in Northern Ireland and from 2m to 1m plus in England. Restrictions apply in both cases. In Scotland, from Monday 14 September, it will only be possible for a maximum of six people from two households to meet together - either indoors or outdoors.
Indoor pubs, cafes and restaurants in Scotland can apply for exemption from the 2m distancing rule, if they take certain steps. If children aged under 12 are part of the two households, they will not count towards the limit of six people. It will soon become law that when moving around hospitality venues, customers will have to wear face coverings.
Do I have to provide contact details if I eat out? In Wales, up to four households can meet inside. In Northern Ireland, up to six people from two households can gather - but pubs have to serve food.
Social distancing across the UK is officially 2m - but in England people can be "1m plus" if they, for instance, wear a face covering or don't sit face-to-face.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes can keep individual groups closer than 2m if they take certain steps to keep customers safe.
Areas under ''local lockdown'' due to high coronavirus rates have different rules.
Some places, such as Caerphilly, are only allowed to take bookings consisting of one household, while hospitality venues in Bolton can only serve takeaway food and drink.
What contact details do I have to provide?
UK pub and hospitality trade bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing.UK pub and hospitality trade bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing.
If a customer tests positive, will the pub or restaurant have to close?If a customer tests positive, will the pub or restaurant have to close?
Possibly, but not necessarily.Possibly, but not necessarily.
Official government advice says an NHS Test and Trace call does not always mean a pub or restaurant must close.Official government advice says an NHS Test and Trace call does not always mean a pub or restaurant must close.
It depends on the circumstances and when the infected person visited.It depends on the circumstances and when the infected person visited.
NHS Test and Trace could ask staff to:NHS Test and Trace could ask staff to:
Local health protection officials have the power to close establishments.Local health protection officials have the power to close establishments.
A few pubs in England, which reopened on 4 July, closed after customers tested positive. Several pubs have temporarily closed after customers or staff tested positive for coronavirus.
If you are contacted personally by NHS Test and Trace, you should follow the advice and be prepared to self-isolate for a fortnight.If you are contacted personally by NHS Test and Trace, you should follow the advice and be prepared to self-isolate for a fortnight.
Is it safe to go to the pub?
Guidance has been issued in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures that pubs and restaurants must take to keep customers and staff safe.
They include:
How did the hospitality sector cope during lockdown?How did the hospitality sector cope during lockdown?
The hospitality sector was the third-largest employer in the country in 2018, according to UK Hospitality.The hospitality sector was the third-largest employer in the country in 2018, according to UK Hospitality.
But many restaurants and cafes were already struggling even before the Covid-19 outbreak, in the face of rising rents and falling consumer spending.But many restaurants and cafes were already struggling even before the Covid-19 outbreak, in the face of rising rents and falling consumer spending.
In the lockdown, job cuts and closures were announced by chains such as Frankie & Benny's and Carluccio's. Chief Executive of the British Beer & Pub Association Emma McClarkin, says the new group restriction in England ''comes at a delicate point in our pub recovery''.
''We need the Government to send the clear message that pubs remain open for business and the public should continue to support them."
Since the pandemic hit, job cuts and closures were announced by several chains such as Byron Burger and Pizza Express .
Thousands of workers in the industry have been furloughed under the government's job retention scheme, which allows them to receive 80% of their monthly salary up to £2,500.Thousands of workers in the industry have been furloughed under the government's job retention scheme, which allows them to receive 80% of their monthly salary up to £2,500.
The British Beer and Pub Association, which represents the pubs industry, said it welcomed the move to reopen businesses but called on pub-goers to support staff "to ensure everyone can enjoy the return of our pubs safely".