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Rules You’ll Need To Stick To If You’re Heading To A Beer Garden Today

Rules You’ll Need To Stick To If You’re Heading To A Beer Garden Today

Outdoor hospitality has reopened in England, but you'll still need to stick to social distancing rules

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

Unless you've spent lockdown living under a rock, you'll probably be aware that as of today people in England can go out to pub beer gardens to get themselves a bevy or have a meal.

Outdoor hospitality opened back up today, alongside gyms, non-essential shops and personal care establishments such as barbers and nail salons.

PA

But if you're one of the many folks who's got plans to go to a beer garden today for a long-awaited drink, there are still social distancing rules in place that you'll need to follow.

For a start, as of today the rule of six is back in play for outdoor hospitality - this means that you can meet up with up to five people from other households.

You'll also need to use the NHS Test and Trace app. If you don't have a smartphone, pubs have been told to implement systems to ensure they can still collect a customer's information for tracing purposes.

Much like last summer, pub-goers will need to be sat at a table to order their drinks and food - pub or restaurant staff will come to your table to take your order or you might be able to order via an app.

Ordering at the bar is still not allowed but you can pay at the till 'as a last resort'.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy tweeted yesterday to say: "There is no ban on taking payments indoors when pubs reopen 12 April.

PA

"Payment should be taken outdoors where possible, but can be taken indoors as a last resort. This is to limit time indoors where transmission of the virus is higher."

Tables and seats outside will be set out adhering to social distancing rules, meaning they'll be either two metres apart or 'one metre plus' with risk mitigations where two metres isn't possible.

Unlike last time, you won't have to order a 'substantial meal' to go alongside your booze - so no sitting there wondering if some curly fries or a slice of chocolate fudge brownie constitutes a full meal - and the 10pm curfew has also been scrapped.

Speaking about the easing of restrictions, Boris Johnson said: "Today is a major step forward in our roadmap to freedom as venues such as shops, hairdressers, nail salons, outdoor attractions, and pubs and restaurants open once again.

PA

"I'm sure it will be a huge relief for those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else it's a chance to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed.

'I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember 'hands, face, space and fresh air' to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, lockdown, Pubs