Boris Johnson has announced that pubs will be reopening from the 4th of July. In a briefing given today, he stated that pubs and restaurants can reopen but there will be substantial changes to the way we use them.
'All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service,' he said. 'Our guidance will encourage minimal staff and customer contact, we will ask business to help NHS test and trace of any local outbreaks by collecting contact details from customers, as in other countries. We will work with the sector to make this manageable.'
The news has been pre-empted over the last couple of days, with reports that Johnson will be reopening the hospitality sector like restaurants and pubs starting over the weekend. It means the government is sticking to their initial ‘Plan To Rebuild’ the economy through Covid-19, although as of yet there is no word on hairdressers or beauty salons opening as was initially included in this phase.
While you may expect jubilation at the thought of pubs finally reopening after months, the public is less keen on the idea – at least according to Twitter. Search the hashtag on the social media platform and you’ll be met with scores of people denouncing the new measure.
‘Nothing has changed, there is still no vaccine, virus still circulating, there is still no effective test and trace regime despite the govt having three months to get it set up, if you willingly go to a pub you're playing Russian roulette with others’ lives #PubsReopening,’ one popular tweet stated.
‘Why would I go to the pub when I’m not even allowed to been in the same room as my parents 😐?,’ another asked. ‘Think we need to slow down on reopening things imo [in my opinion] (as much as I miss normality) #PubsReopening.’
Pub workers too have spoken out against the measure, with one Twitter user admitting she is terrified to go back to work. ‘#PubsReopening as a server in a pub, British pub culture is actually gross as hell. I’m dreading to go back, and I know the locals will take the piss even during this tough time for all of us,’ she said.
Ultimately, it seems that while many would love to return to their old socialising habits, most just don’t feel safe enough to do so. But for those of you that are considering it, here are all your burning questions answered.
When will pubs reopen in England?
According to Johnson’s announcement, pubs will reopen on the 4th of July.
'All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service,' he said. 'Our guidance will encourage minimal staff and customer contact, we will ask business to help NHS test and trace of any local outbreaks by collecting contact details from customers, as in other countries. We will work with the sector to make this manageable.'
This easing is completely reversible should transmissions of the virus increase once more.
Will pubs be open in Wales?
Lockdown rules in Wales are different to England with the Welsh government yet to announce any proposed date for when pubs will be able to open despite calls for more guidance from pub owners. The government made an announcement on new lockdown measures on Friday last week, reopening non-essential shops from Monday however maintaining a five-mile travel rule to ensure people stay local.
However, no announcements to the hospitality sector were made.
What pubs are open near me?
There are a number of pub chains open across the UK for takeaway and delivery already, including Greene King which hosts 29 pubs in London. Others like The World’s End in Finsbury Park and Victoria Inn in Peckham are also open for takeaways. But to find out if your local pub is open, it’s best to give them a call and see not only what they’re offering now but how they plan to open now that they can actually serve customers on site.
Wetherspoons for example set out detailed guidelines last month on how they planned to reopen when possible, with visitors encouraged to sit in their beer gardens if possible. That means pubs with outdoor spaces are much more likely to be able to open safely, although as long as they’re following social distancing guidelines any pub can now reopen according to Johnson.
Is social distancing now 1 meter in pubs?
'We continue to meet our five tests, meaning we no longer face the virus spreading exponentially though it remains in general circulation,' Johnson said in his briefing today. 'Thanks to our progress we can now go further and safely ease the lockdown, at every stage caution will be our watchword and each step will be reversible.
This means easing the 2meter social distancing rule to 1meter, which he said was making it too difficult for the economy to operate.
'We can change the 2meter for the social distancing rule, this rule effectively makes it impossible for large parts of our economy to operate,' he stated. 'Where it is possible to keep 2 meters apart, people should but where it is not we would advise people to keep a social distance of 1meter plus. Remain 1meter apart while taking mitigations to reduce the risk of transmission.'
Can I get a takeaway drink from a pub?
You don’t need to wait for pubs to reopen for the public for this, as many have been offering takeaway drinks for the duration of lockdown. Give your local a call and see what’s available, you might find some social distance queues round the block though.
Can I get takeaway pub food like a roast dinner?
As above, a number of pubs have been offering limited versions of their menu for the duration of lockdown. It’s no surprise then that many have seen people flocking for their takeaway roast dinners. Check out the pubs near you on Google to find out what your local is offering.
Read More:
Lockdown Limbo: Now It’s Come To It, Are You Actually Excited About Restrictions Being Eased?
Click through to see pictures of lockdown lifting around the world...
Life After Lockdown in Pictures - Grazia
1 of 47New York, USA
The Cafe du Soleil sets up igloos outside for its diners to allow for social distancing.
2 of 47Catania, Italy
Sara, who has just given birth to baby Olivia, wears a protective mask as father Angelo takes a picture of his new daughter through a glass wall.
3 of 47Paris, France
Students exercise outside as they return to school on 15 May.
4 of 47Krakow, Poland
A dental hygienist wearing PPE welcomes patient at a dentist's office in Krakow on 15 May.
5 of 47New York, New York, USA
Social distancing circles are used at Domino Park in Brooklyn, New York on 15 May.
6 of 47Johannesburg, South Africa
Social distancing markers are displayed at a train station in Johannesburg, South Africa on 4 May.
7 of 47Auckland, New Zealand
Martyn Weatherill, principal of Laingholm Primary School in Auckland, hosts an online assembly with students in their classrooms on the first day back to school on 18 May.
8 of 47Berlin, Germany
Bayern Munich substitutes wear protective face masks and maintain social distance in the stands during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Union Berlin and FC Bayern Muenchen at Stadion An der Alten Foersterei on 17 May. The Bundesliga and Second Bundesliga is the first professional league to resume the season after the nationwide lockdown; all matches until the end of the season will be played behind closed doors.
9 of 47Dallas, Texas, USA
A sink in a public toilet is blocked off in an attempt to promote social distancing.
10 of 47London, UK
An empty Waterloo station shows a sign encouraging social distancing on 18 May.
11 of 47San Francisco, California, USA
A temporary tent encampment for the homeless with tents at an acceptable distance from each other is opened in San Francisco.
12 of 47Berlin, Germany
Markings are placed on the floor at a primary school in Berlin as primary school pupils and tenth graders began returning to school.
13 of 47Krakow, Poland
A sign at the entrance to the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow reads, 'Do Not Enter Without A Mask' and 'Keep A Safe Distance.'
14 of 47Paris, France
Gare de nord station in Paris has marks on the ground to show the appropriate social distance between people.
15 of 47Granada, Spain
A zebra crossing sports a sign that recommends keeping two meters away from other people on the first day that Granada begins Phase 1 of progressive return to normal life on 18 May.
16 of 47Alimos, Greece
Beachgoers enjoy the sun and sand at Anavisos beach on 16 May as organised beaches are allowed to be reopened in Greece.
17 of 47Innsbruck, Austria
Hairdressers wash customer's hair on 2 May 2020 in Innsbruck, Austria after hair salons and barber shops reopen after a seven-week lockdown. Customers and employees must wear masks and have to keep as much distance as possible.
18 of 47Tel Aviv, Israel
A young girl wearing a mask plays on the playground during the first day of school on 5 May 2020 after over a month and a half that schools were closed.
19 of 47Hermosillo, Mexico
A doctor from the state health sector speaks to a federal police officer who is supervising the information to prevent contagion amid the COVID-19 pandemic at Hermosillo International Airport on 2 May 2020. Hermosillo International Airport is operating normally while taking preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
20 of 47Venice, Italy
Demonstrators in Venice asks for the restrictions around bars, restaurants and other commercial activities be lifted on 4 May 2020.
21 of 47Shanghai, China
Shanghai Disneyland utilises 'social Distancing' queues for its reopening on 4 May 2020.
22 of 47Dusseldorf, Germany
Janine Scholz and Philip Scholz are married in a wedding ceremony at the Autokino Dusseldorf drive-in cinema on 5 May 2020. A total of three couples are marrying at the drive-in with friends and family members allowed to attend in their cars.
23 of 47Munich, Germany
Churchgoers arrive Frauenkirche 'Cathedral of Our Lady' cathedral for evening mass on the first day churches and other houses of worship are allowed to hold services again in Bavaria since March on 4 May 2020.
24 of 47Dresden, Germany
Visitors, only some of whom are wearing face masks, wait to enter the Zwinger palace complex as a poster showing Adam and Eve wearing masks hangs at the entrance on the first day the palace reopened to the public.
25 of 47Athens, Greece
A commuters, wearing protective face masks, sits on a bus on 4 May 2020.
26 of 47Barcelona, Spain
People watch the sunset at La Barceloneta Beach on 2 May 2020. In Spain, lockdown measures have continued to ease and walking with family members and outdoor exercise is now permitted from 6-10am and from 8-11pm.
27 of 47Tel Aviv, Isreal
Year 3 children return to school for the fist time in over a month and a half on 5 May 2020 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
28 of 47Huntington Village, New York, USA
A family receives a delivery of beer from the Six Harbors Brewery, who have trained their two golden retrievers, Buddy and Barley, to deliver beer to customers during the pandemic.
29 of 47Miami, Florida
Jose Morales sanitizes buckets of golf balls at the Miami Beach Golf Club on 29 April 2020 as the city of Miami Beach partially reopens parks and facilities including golf courses, tennis courts and marinas.
30 of 47Sydney, Australia
Surfers prepare to enter the water at Bondi Beach on 3 May 2020. Currently, 'Surf & Go' measures are in place for weekends and there is no beach access allowed except along designated pathways to the water for surfcraft use only.
31 of 47Wuhan, China
People wear protective masks while practicing dance near the Yangtze River 1 May 2020 as life returns to normal in Wuhan, China.
32 of 47Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Prototype clear acrylic safety shield dividers are tested at a blackjack table at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, which is currently closed as a result of the statewide shutdown.
33 of 47Gold Coast, Australia
From 2 May 2020, the Queensland government eased lockdown measures to allow people to leave their homes for recreational activities, such as motorbiking or boating, picnics, visiting national parks or going shopping for non-essential items. Social distancing must still be observed and people must stay within 50km of their main residence.
34 of 47Miami Florida
Miami Beach, Florida has partially reopened parks and facilities including golf courses, tennis courts and marinas as it begins easing lockdown restrictions.
35 of 47Naples, Italy
A woman has her temperature taken upon arrival at Naples' Central Station 4 May 4 2020.
36 of 47Auckland, New Zealand
As schools prepare for students up to Year 10 who can't study from home or whose parents need to return to work to return to school, a teacher write Covid-19 instructions on the white board.
37 of 47Miami, Florida
People share alcohol-based hand sanitszer in South Pointe Park on 29 April 2020.
38 of 47Vienna, Austria
Shoppers rush into a clothing store, which has opened for the first time since the government imposed restrictions to slow the spread of coronavirus on 2 May 2020.
39 of 47Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Restaurant Mediamatic in Amsterdam offers what they call 'corona-proof' dining.
40 of 47Bangkok, Thailand
A taxi driver tries to protect himself with a plastic shield after Thailand's lockdown was partially lifted on 3 May 2020 allowing markets, parks, barber shops and restaurants to open with proper social distancing measures.
41 of 47Taipei, Taiwan
Students eat their lunch on desks with plastic partitions as a preventive measure at Dajia Elementary School in Taipei on 29 April 2020.
42 of 47Moscow, Russia
A couple has their temperature taken before their wedding ceremony at Moscow's No1 Civil Registry Office on the first Sunday after Orthodox Easter.
43 of 47Moscow, Russia
The couple shows off their wedding rings to a phone, as currently, relatives and friends are not allowed to attend marriage ceremonies due to safety measures aimed at countering the spread of the disease.
44 of 47Milan, Italy
As the lockdown ends in Italy, the government has allowed bars and restaurants to reopen exclusively for take-away food.
45 of 47Krakow, Poland
A kiosk worker wears a protective face mask as he speaks to a customer from inside an electronic point covered with plastic inside Kazimierz Shopping mall on 4 May 2020.
46 of 47Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Surin Nguyen, wearing protection gear, works on the nails of a customer at Allure Nail Bar in Atlanta, Georgia on 21 April 2020 after Governor Brian Kemp eased restrictions allowing some businesses, including hair and nail salons, to reopen in the US state of Georgia after a four-week lockdown.
47 of 47Bozeman, Montana, USA
Kurt Smith wears a mask while helping a customer at the recently reopened Schnee's Boots, Shoes and Outdoors on 4 May 2020.