The UK has started easing its lockdown restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which means more shops are starting to open and other businesses are looking at how they can get back to work.
One sector that is going to have a lot to consider when it comes to reopening is hospitality. Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes will all have to think about how they can get back to serving customers and keep everyone safe at the same time.
Big Hospitality recently reported that UKHospitality has created some guidance for hospitality businesses to help them prepare to open their doors again come July, when it’s expected that businesses in the sector will be given the green light to start welcoming customers again.
According to the news provider, the guidance has been sent to MPs before it is circulated within the sector. Among the recommendations, however, are to prevent customers from sitting and drinking at bars and to remove salt and pepper shakers from tables.
In addition, restaurants will no longer have tables ready laid and instead cutlery will be brought to customers with their food to prevent it from sitting out in the open for too long before it’s used. Tables will also need to be spaced at least two metres apart.
Meanwhile, in bars, customers should be discouraged from bringing their empty glasses back to the bar. Another recommendation is that beer gardens are regularly patrolled by staff to prevent big groups from gathering.
Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality chief executive, commented: “UKH is working hard with our members and alongside other industry bodies to develop practical and effective guidelines to enable businesses to begin to reopen safely when the time is right.”
She also explained that the guidance had been sent to politicians to “help inform their thinking around reopening”.
As well as the general guidance created by UKH, the organisation stressed that a site-by-site risk assessment will be essential.
The changes will be an adjustment for customers as well as for businesses. It’s therefore essential that any hospitality businesses that are intending to reopen later in the summer make it clear what processes and protocols they’re following.
For instance, if you know you will need to implement a one-way system for customers placing orders to help maintain social distance, now is the time to consider how you can communicate that clearly.
Designing and arranging for A3 printing online could be helpful, as you can create bespoke messages for your premises and change or update them as frequently as you need to. This is likely to be preferable, at least in the short-term, to having new signage printed. Doxzoo offers a range of ways to help you get your message across safely , whether it be laminated/synthetic menus, voucher cards or feedback forms all available in a range of sizes, materials and budgets. Just upload your own artwork.
Although hospitality businesses need to wait a bit longer before they can reopen, there are a number of other organisations that have been told they’re able to start offering services again under the initial relaxation of lockdown rules.
The Liverpool Echo shared a list, noting that homeware and hardware stores are now free to reopen, as are bike shops, garden centres and veterinary surgeries. Other businesses that can open again include dentists, osteopaths, opticians and chiropractors.
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