Bristol pubs are reopening - here's what to expect

Bristol pubs are reopening - here's what to expect

Posted on: 01 Jul 2020

Your local might finally be opening its doors this weekend, but expect to see some changes.

 

Finally. It's the moment we've all been waiting for since lockdown kicked in: pubs across the UK are being permitted to reopen this weekend after more than three months of closure. We've spent weeks making dodgy cocktails at home, ordering cases of beer to our doorsteps and building makeshift bars in our back gardens, but on Saturday 4 July, it is, at last, time to return to the local.

 

So what can you expect from your first visit to the pub since March? The decor won't have changed, there'll be the same selection of spirits on the shelves and (hopefully) the same bar team there to welcome you back, but the similarities will likely end there. New government guidelines to ensure staff and customers stay as safe as possible will be strictly enforced, meaning there won't be a total return to normality just yet. 

 

After such a long period of closure, independent pubs across Bristol are, obviously, desperate to welcome people back through the doors. At the same time, though, with the COVID-19 crisis still wearing on, safety is a top priority, and so measures will be taken to reduce risk of the spread of infection. Tables will be spread out, capacity will be drastically reduced and everything will be meticulously sanitised.

 

Read on for a rundown of what to expect as pubs start to reopen, and be sure to take into consideration the tireless work of pub owners and staff in getting ready for the rush when you return for that long-awaited first pint this weekend.

Bristol Beer Factory.

Table service

 

Gone are the days (for now, at least) when you could just stroll up to the bar and order yourself a pint. Social distancing measures are still in place in the UK, meaning pubs are required to do everything they can to keep people more than a metre away from each other.

 

With that in mind, establishments are being asked to operate table service in place of the traditional ordering system, ensuring people maintain a safe distance from each other at all times. Bear in mind that this will take longer than usual, and it will probably be frustrating to wait for your next round, but staff will be doing everything they can to keep people topped up as regularly as possible.

 

Larger venues with enough space may allow ordering at the bar if they're able to maintain distance between customers, but you will likely be asked to order and return to your table for a member of staff to bring drinks over to you. One-way systems may also be in place, so make sure you follow them if requested.

 

 

Extensive use of hand sanitiser

 

You shouldn't need reminding that you need to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or using the toilet, but it's especially important to do so now as pubs start to reopen and large numbers of people use the same seats, glasses, doors handles etc.

 

Rest assured everything will be sanitised and disinfected regularly by staff in line with government guidelines, but that doesn't mean you can do your bit by maintaining your own personal hygiene. Pubs are certain to have a surplus of sanitiser and disinfectant behind the bar, so be sure to ask for some if you've forgotten to bring your own.

 

 

Longer waiting times

 

Obviously, it's going to take longer for staff to take an order for a whole table, pour drinks and bring them over to you than it would to just take your order over the bar. You'll be waiting a bit longer between drinks, but in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn't matter. Don't rush staff, don't do any of those irritating 'impatient customer' things that you think are discrete but are actually far from it, and don't get aggressive if you can't get what you want.

 

Pubs may be opening, but the coronavirus hasn't suddenly gone away. Owners and staff have just lost out on months of revenue - don't kick off at them for taking a bit longer than usual with your pints when all they're doing is following the rules.

 

 

Lower venue capacities 

 

It's been impossible to replicate the atmosphere of the pub during lockdown - the buzz of the local when it's full on a Friday or Saturday night has been missed up and down the country. It may seem tempting to rush to the pub en masse this weekend, but until the coronavirus is fully under control, owners have no choice but to reduce capacity to ensure social distancing guidelines are met.

 

Expect more space between tables and limited capacities as owners do what they can to adhere to government guidance regarding 1m distance between customers, but appreciate the fact that you won't have to battle to find a spare seat.

 

 

Requests for your personal information upon entry

 

In line with the government's NHS Test & Trace programme, pubs are being asked to make a note of the personal details of everyone they serve, enabling the authorities to keep a temporary record of who's been where, in case there are any new clusters of coronavirus cases. Recording of personal information isn't mandatory, but don't be surprised to see somebody with a clipboard behind the bar.

 

Be aware that pubs aren't storing your information to put into some police state database, they won't sell it and they won't use it for anything other than the Test & Trace programme. The virus is still a very real threat, so everything must be done to ensure localised outbreaks can be identified and contained as efficiently as possible.

 

 

Staff adapting to new roles

 

None of us really know what's going on, and as we've been constantly reminded over the last few weeks, we're living in truly unprecedented times. Pubs haven't been given a whole lot of time to adapt ahead of reopening, and the advice has been confusing at best, so bear with staff when they're unsure about new rules or mistakes get made.

 

Ultimately, owners and staff are putting themselves at risk by reopening and allowing people to return to the pub, so be patient, be understanding and appreciate the fact that life has not yet returned to normal. We're still in the early stages of easing lockdown, so don't burst through the doors of your local and expect everything to be the same as it was last time you went.

 

 

The coronavirus crisis has been hard on us all, but pubs and bars have been among the worst-hit, unable to open or operate since the beginning of lockdown in late March. The reopening is uncharted water for everyone involved, so show your support for your local, be patient with new measures, and do what you can to ensure Bristol's independent establishments survive an uncertain future.

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Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.