Pubs Reopening - Road Map Out Of Lockdown

[Andy C]

16 hours ago, Longcol said:

Sincerely hope the Deer will still be there - had my first pint of hand pulled Tetleys there about 47 years ago......................................

My understanding is The Red Deer is owned by Star Pubs & Bars, which is part of Heineken, who lease it out to a local independent operator. Jake the landlord has handed his notice to Star to terminate the lease. He doesn't leave until June so it will reopen briefly from 17 May (assuming that date on the roadmap sticks) until he leaves, after that Star will be advertising the pub for a new tenant to take a lease on. Whether the new tenant is as good as Jake is of course unknown, the other thing is what type of contract the new person signs up on (two types are available - a tied contract where all wet stock has to be bought from Star or a market rent only contract where they can source whatever stock they like from wherever but pay higher rent, such pub companies hate the latter type of contract)

22 hours ago, despritdan said:

My favourite pub is the Queen's Head; I hope it hasn't closed for good.

planning to reopen when indoor service is allowed, provisionally May 17th.

Edited April 7, 2021 by Andy C

[tzijlstra]

23 hours ago, hauxwell said:

All the best on your move to Scotland tzijlstra and hope you will still continue to post on the forum.

I feel sorry for the pubs that don’t have enough outside space and therefore can’t open.  The ones that are able to reopen I hope the weather behaves itself until they are able to open fully.  All it needs is heavy rain and wind and that could affect trade or even stop them from opening their beer gardens on the 12th.  This is the Uk with unpredictable weather. So I will keep my fingers crossed for the weather to be kind to the hospitality trade until hopefully they are able to open fully.

 

Will these pubs also have to provide outdoor mobile toilets or will you be allowed to use the ones inside? 

Thanks hauxwell, appreciate that! Don't worry, I know it is difficult to imagine, but even in Scotland there is Internet

20 hours ago, Longcol said:

Sincerely hope the Deer will still be there - had my first pint of hand pulled Tetleys there about 47 years ago......................................

When I started my MSc at Sheffield I met some fellow-students during Fresher's week, they asked me to meet them at the University Arms. I sat there for 20 minutes nursing a pint when one of them texted me to say he got the wrong pub! I walked up to the Red Deer and many friendships were born in that place. Amazing pub and really pleased to read the below:

3 hours ago, Andy C said:

My understanding is The Red Deer is owned by Star Pubs & Bars, which is part of Heineken, who lease it out to a local independent operator. Jake the landlord has handed his notice to Star to terminate the lease. He doesn't leave until June so it will reopen briefly from 17 May (assuming that date on the roadmap sticks) until he leaves, after that Star will be advertising the pub for a new tenant to take a lease on. Whether the new tenant is as good as Jake is of course unknown, the other thing is what type of contract the new person signs up on (two types are available - a tied contract where all wet stock has to be bought from Star or a market rent only contract where they can source whatever stock they like from wherever but pay higher rent, such pub companies hate the latter type of contract)

planning to reopen when indoor service is allowed, provisionally May 17th.

Thanks Andy!

[hauxwell]

5 hours ago, Andy C said:

You can use toilets inside the pub and are required to wear a face covering whenever you aren't sat at your table outside.

Thank you Andy.

[Fudbeer]

Thanks Andy.

 

I love my pubs but think I will leave it until at leat May and probably June.

 

I don't blame the pubs but during the previous lockdown  it just feels like you are constantly being told what you can and can't do and SOME staff need to work their communication skills.

 

I understand why they need all these rules but for me it takes all the fun out of going for a relaxing drink.

[Andy C]

The government guideance that pubs, bars, restaurants etc have to follow by law - is here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery

 

And a repeat of the link to the list/map of pubs opening for outdoor service: https://sheffield.camra.org.uk/2021/02/beer-garden-openings/

 

Hopefully the below is helpful - I did feel like a grumpy headteacher writing it which feels wrong when talking about pubs that are the social centre of a community where you go to relax and enjoy the company of friends etc!

 

SUMMARY OF THE RULES FOR PUB CUSTOMERS

 

If you don't fancy trawling through a 16 chapter government document, hopefully this will be helpful! Remember it isn't the pub making such rules, it is the law, so please be nice to the staff having to make them work!

•  Every individual customer must sign in to the NHS Test & Trace system either via the app or through a venue's manual system. The staff are required to check you have done this correctly before allowing entry, the venue can be fined a minimum of £1,000 if they don't.
• Once signed in staff will show you to a table that has been cleaned following the departure of the previous customer.
• You must wear a face covering throughout your time on the premises, except when sat down at your table. Please wear yours when you arrive.
•  You will need to follow any arrangements to facilitate social distancing etc, this includes one way systems for walking around the premises, limits on numbers in the toilets etc.
• The rule of 6 applies - by law you should not be meeting up in groups larger than 6 people OR 2 households outdoors and single households only indoors. Pubs cannot provide tables for groups of more than 6 people.
• Takeaway sales can be made indoors, otherwise all orders must be placed and served at your table outdoors. You must remain sat at your table to eat and drink.
• Do not move tables/chairs etc, they have all been carefully positioned in a way to ensure groups are the appropriate distance apart to comply with social distancing regulations.
• Any TV, music etc must remain strictly at background level so people don't have to raise their voice to be heard over it, which can increase the risk of the virus being spread further.
• Yes you can go inside to use the toilet!
• Ideally you should pay at table for your order but where that isn't possible (for example there is no signal for the card machine outside) you may go inside to pay. Food and drink must still be served at table however.

 

There are some variances between venues on how they are operating - some will be offering tables on a walk-in first come first served basis, some are taking bookings and some a bit of both. I'd advise checking the venue's social media for details of revised opening hours/days and any booking requirements before heading out.

 

Please keep in mind that with social distancing requirements and only the outdoor area open that capacity is significantly reduced.

 

All these rules imposed on pubs to keep you safe don't sound like much fun and the experience is what you'd normally expect from a pub, however understand and follow them and hopefully you'll still enjoy sat chilled out with friends at a table whilst the staff serve you at your seat! It's been a while!

 

 

TRAVELLING TO THE PUB

 

The full network of buses, trams, trains and taxis in Sheffield will be operating.

• latest bus and tram timetables are here: https://travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/newsupdates/service-changes
• train information is here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

You are required by law to wear a face covering on public transport, in taxis and in stations unless exempt.

 

Social distancing advice is in operation on public transport, you should sit 1 person per double seat and in a "zig zag" formation - ie if the person on the row in front is sat by the window you should sit be the aisle and vice versa. It is also suggested you carry hand sanatiser to use before and after your journey, refrain from leaving litter on the vehicle and you are encouraged to avoid using cash to pay for your ticket (contactless is accepted for train and tram travel and on buses operated by First, Stagecoach, Powells and Hulleys, alternatively some tickets can be purchased in advance via apps/websites).

 

The social distancing requirements on buses, which reduced the capacity by more than 50%, is enforced by drivers as best as possible, when they are aware they have reached the limit they will change the destination display to show bus full.

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by Andy C

[hauxwell]

22 minutes ago, Andy C said:

SUMMARY OF THE RULES FOR PUB CUSTOMERS

Thanks for posting the information and making it easy to understand.

 

[Andy C]

8 minutes ago, hauxwell said:

Thanks for posting the information and making it easy to understand.

 

cheers, glad you think I've achieved that aim.

 

Personally I'm looking forward to getting out and about and being able to meet friends for a beer again, even if it does have to be outdoors with various rules applied!

 

Obviously looking forward to full normality even more but one step at a time!

[Longcol]

On 07/04/2021 at 20:50, tzijlstra said:

Thanks hauxwell, appreciate that! Don't worry, I know it is difficult to imagine, but even in Scotland there is Internet

 

Steam powered I'm told.

[Baron99]

At least there are fewer restrictions this time round.  No requirement for a 'substantial' meal & a 10pm curfew.

[Andy C]

10 hours ago, Baron99 said:

At least there are fewer restrictions this time round.  No requirement for a 'substantial' meal & a 10pm curfew.

yes, the curfew was seriously counter productive too, encouraging people to have house parties instead of socialising in the regulated environment of a pub. In town at 10pm during that period Tesco Express had queues out the door with people buying crates of cheap booze to drink at home.

 

The rules this year do seem logical to some extent although puts a lot of pressure on staff - also requires more staff to serve less customers, not a great business model! I think a big frustration too is the requirement to take NHS Test & Trace check in data from EVERY customer not just one per group given how few people were actually contacted to self isolate as a result of visiting a pub last year (is this because the data wasn't used or because the pubs were such a safe environment?)

 

Again there is the issue of poor communication from the government about the rules and stressed pub staff having to deal with a public that doesn't really understand the rules. For example groups of 10 people turning up with rule of 6 in force - "we'll just have 2 tables then pal". Nah, the law doesn't work like that.

Edited April 9, 2021 by Andy C