Pubs And Restaurants To 'Start Serving Outdoors' By April

Pubs and restaurants could be opening up outdoor areas to serve customers in April, if coronavirus cases continue to decline.

According to a new report in The Sun, we could be knocking back pints in a beer garden by the spring.

An unnamed government source told the paper: "We will hopefully be sipping pints in the spring sunshine sooner rather than later."

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The report comes after the UK's R rate fell below one for the first time since July.

A minister told The Sun: "It is all going well. The rates are coming down, the numbers are looking good. We are on course for the roadmap.

"Outdoor ventilation is key. There are new mutations of the virus, but nothing changes how it spreads."

But before we all get too excited, a fellow minister warned the newspaper that lockdown restrictions would be eased gradually this time around, to avoid a sudden rise in new cases.

They said: "Things won't reopen as quickly as some may want.

"We will be cautious, opening one thing to see how it goes before moving to the next."

Last weekend, it was reported that the 10pm curfew that was previously imposed on pubs would be scrapped in May.

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The Sun claimed Prime Minister Boris Johnson was looking for a 'simplification' of rules as the government looks at post-lockdown measures.

Multiple Whitehall sources and ministers' outlined the plan to the news outlet.

One source said: "Things that were proven to be a hindrance like 10pm drinking up, will go.

"If pubs are to reopen for good they've got to do it properly and can't be stuck in limbo like last year."

Another added: "Ventilation is key to tackling the virus so expect a major push to drink outside to begin with, especially for larger groups."

It was also suggested that the previous 'substantial meal' rule - which meant booze could only be served alongside food and prompted numerous questions around what 'substantial' actually meant - could also be ditched.

So you'll have no need to buy a scotch egg if you fancy a quick pint.

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A source told The Daily Mail: "There is a hope to not get bogged down in 'scotch egg-gate' again, by effectively simplifying the rules to avoid confusion."

However, 'the rule of six' and social distancing measures are still set to be in place when the hospitality industry does open back up.

Topics: UK News

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19