As hospitality businesses prepare for outdoor reopening from Monday, April 12, we spoke to a Midlands-based independent pub company.
Staffordshire-based independent pub operator Punch Pubs has spent £1 million preparing its venues for outdoor reopening this month.
Outdoor spaces such as beer gardens, patios and courtyards have never been so important in the world of pubs.
Punch Pubs, based in Burton upon Trent, has invested in a million-pound Inside|Outside programme to help publicans make the most of trading safely outside while also complying with Government guidance.
The success of the scheme will allow many pubs to open outdoors on April 12, including plenty that previously would have not had the capacity.
This means 662 (72%) Punch pubs in England are now set to welcome guests back to their local this month.
Andy Spencer, managing director of Punch Pubs, says: “Working together with hundreds of our publicans, we have breathed new life into many of our pub gardens and outdoor spaces.
Creating safe, warm, and welcome environments to give our guests fantastic experiences when we reopen and for the future.
“Like all of our publicans able to reopen, we are excited to welcome our customers back in April. However, it remains vitally important to remember that pubs will be operating at a significantly reduced capacity.
“We need restrictions to continue to be relaxed during the reopening period to ensure the long-term survival of the Great British pub.”
Punch and their Publicans have been working in tandem to create solutions from new furniture to stretch tents, festoon lighting, cosy huts, and all-important outdoor heating.
The scheme has already seen hundreds of projects completed across the country.
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