Both hospitality business owners and customers will be pleased to know that Boris Johnson has confirmed that pubs and restaurants can welcome consumers back indoors from 17 May. But what will restaurants have to think about for reopening for eat-in customers?

The 17 May reopening will be welcome news for those who have struggled with serving customers in the typical British weather, and especially for those who do not have any outdoor dining areas.

However there will still need to be some measures such as social distancing and face coverings, as well as limited table service, and maybe even temperature checks at entrances.

Some restauranteurs have invested in buying partitions and screens, while others feel it will detract from the experience of eating in their restaurants, pointing out that reopening with social distancing may mean operating at a significantly reduced capacity that may not be economically viable.

However, many others believe that they can make it work, and have taken to redesigning their restaurant layouts for a range of distance requirements, as well as sourcing hand sanitiser, PPE, and air circulation and purification solutions.

It is thought that fast-paced restaurants that pack diners in will struggle the most to make any adjustments, particularly those with fixed seating, while more high-end and fine dining experiences that already space diners far apart will find it easier to comply.

Brewer and bar operator Brewdog has produced one of the most comprehensive plans for what post lockdown trading might look like, although it’s all subject to official guidance from the Government.

Measures on the table include staff wearing face masks and gloves at all times, single-use menus, contactless ordering via an app, easily accessible sanitiser stations for all and surface cleaning every 15 minutes.

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