Sneeze guards, signage and walkways as pubs roll out the barrels again
The day pub landlords and drinkers have been waiting for has arrived.
Staff at bars across the region are today pulling pints once again more than 100 days after time was called as lockdown began.
The Spring Hill Pub in Wolverhampton is among those opening for business again today. And like all pubs landlord Chris Ludlow has had to bring in measures including new walkways, signage and sneeze guards.
He said: "We've done a full sanitation deep clean here, as well as installing social distance signage and sneeze guards, which are erected on the bar.
"We've taken tables out and created walkways and had all the staff doing phone interviews to return to work to do training and then come in individual groups to do train in the kitchen.
"For the front side staff, we've rewritten risk assessments and done Covid risk assessments, so we've done a lot of work to get ready."
The 51-year-old from Wolverhampton said he had brought back all the staff who had been furloughed and said that while the next few weeks would be tough, he hoped the pub would feel like part of the community again.
The managers at the pub Dominic Mullin and Andy Meddings both said they were really happy to be back and to be able to do their jobs again.
Dominic, 37, said: "I've missed the social aspect and I've missed work and seeing the friends who I work with as I've been here 15 years and I'm keen to start making money again."
Andy, 31, said: "It's a feeling of elation to be back and to get some routine back into my system again and I'm just excited to see what's going to happen over the coming weeks."
Chris Ludlow had this message for customers and members of the public ahead of reopening the pub.
He said: "Please come on back as we do an excellent food service and our team is back in place to help you.
"There are some changes as reflects the times, but we hope there won't be too much of an impact on your experience here."
