JD Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin has revealed how the pub chain plans to reopen when given the go ahead by the government. The plan comes one fortnight after the government revealed reopening pubs would be step three of their plan to rebuild the country post-lockdown, with the earliest possible date to reopen being July 4, subject to various tests.
In an £11million plan to completely overhaul their pubs, Martin revealed that Wetherspoons customers will be expected to sanitise their hands on arrival and follow a one-way system through the bar where tills will be screened off to protect employees (who will be given masks, gloves and eye protection). There will also be a minimum of 10 hand sanitiser dispensers in each pub, with two full-time employees regularly required to clean surfaces and touch points.
While customers can still pay in cash, the chain will encourage people to use contactless cards or order via their app. Pub-goers will then be encouraged to sit outside in their beer gardens, with the option to sit inside if they choose. Tables inside will have screens surrounding them to ensure social distancing guidelines are still followed. When it comes to ordering food, there’ll be a limited menu and condiments only available in sachets.
Staff will be expected to complete daily health assessments to confirm their fitness to work and have their temperature taken with a digital thermometer. With all of these plans in mind, the pub chain has confirmed it will be ready to reopen as soon as the government approves it.
‘At present the government have not confirmed any reopening date for pubs,’ said Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson in a press release. ‘However, it is important that we are prepared for any announcement. We have spent a number of weeks consulting with staff who work in our pubs, as well as area managers in order to draw up our plans. We have received more than 2,500 suggestions from our staff. The safety of our staff and customers is paramount.’
Whether or not customers will return is the big question, especially given so many promised to boycott following the company’s handling of staff during lockdown. In March, their 40,000 staff published a letter demanding full pay after they were told they would only be paid for the hours worked up until March 22. In the letter, staff said they had received a video of CEO Tim Martin telling them to instead apply for jobs at Tesco during lockdown.
After public outrage, millionaire Martin announced he would pay his staff using the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme, which is funded by tax payers.
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