The hospitality industry will soon be reopening its doors.
What should we expect?
The coronavirus pandemic is a worldwide crisis, unprecedented in living memory. Not one expert really knows how things will develop after lockdown finishes. We will soon know when pubs and restaurants reopen on July 4. Yet we have to make assumptions particularly if thinking about returning ourselves to our favourite restaurants and bars.
Will people come back into restaurants or will they fear the risks of gathering in groups?
There are two scenarios much talked about.
The first is where crowds begin spilling into restaurants and people becoming increasingly more relaxed about social distancing as the drinks flow and the food is consumed with people finally escaping their home imprisonment.
The second is where people stay away, fearing gathering in crowds and pubs and restaurants stay pretty much empty.
What we do know is that every publican and restauranteur will make safety a priority. They will make the safety of both their staff and guests a priority, ensuring a safe environment to minimize the impact of the coronavirus.
The future very much depends on the restaurants ability to make their guests feel like they are in a safe haven. They will make their restaurant as clean as possible paying special attention to any surface customers touch, like light switches and doors, and any system that circulates air.
But how far can they go to ensure everyone’s safety?
Many of the following guidelines will be followed:
- Customers will be greeted with hand sanitizer and signs providing guidance on hygiene and social distancing.
- Only table service where possible will be offered
- Contactless ordering will be encouraged, (many restaurants won’t take cash and only use disposable menus)
- Cutlery and condiments will be brought to tables only when food is served.
- Everything will be wiped down in between customer usage for the safety of visitors and staff.
- Doors should be wedged open so no need to touch handles as often
Tables spaced out - No more than two households are allowed to sit together (unless outside)
- You can visit outdoors with up to five other people (six in total).
- No live music, Indoor and soft play areas will remain closed
- Venues must keep a record of customers for 21 days.
- Staff and punters may wear face coverings, but it’s not required by law.
- Staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and masks
- Kitchen staff shouldn’t mingle with each other in their breaks to reduce the risk of transmission and only one person at a time should access areas such as walk in pantries, freezers and fridges.
- Taking customers’ temperatures at the door and denying entry to anyone who refuses or shows symptoms. (extreme – maybe?)
- Businesses in the UK have been asked to collect contact details from customers and keep them for 21 days in order to aid track and trace should cases emerge.
A lot of measures there. Many restaurants and pubs will adopt them all, some just a few of them. We could also expect more government guidelines and instructions on what is demanded.
At Santorini Greek Café in Darlington the decision has been made to not reopen on July 4.
Georgios, the owner cares very much for his staff and guests and feels that to open immediately would be putting too much risk in front of them. Having provided food for the NHS at both Darlington Memorial and James Cook in Middlesbrough he saw first hand how much stress was put on to the gallant staff of the NHS. He said that to hold back will disappoint his long standing regular customers but he knows they will understand that we are all part of a community and to protect each other has to take precedence over making money. On shutdown he began to offer takeaway and intends to continue doing so.
“I will ensure that I continue bringing the taste of Greece to Darlington during the summer to bring the Mediterranean to the people who alas can’t travel to my beautiful homeland through this difficult time. “
Yet when he does reopen the measures he intends taking are as follows.
“We will introduce a string of new safety measures including a bookings-only policy, “safe dining” spaces, temperature checking, complimentary hand sanitizer bottles on every table and the option to order through our online website. All staff will be wearing PPE at all times and the team will be trained in stringent deep cleaning. Alas there is too much still unknown and we want to see how things develop before we finally reopen.“
Many restaurants won’t reopen on the 4th. Nandos who have 216 restaurants for takeaway, will keep their eat-in facilities closed.
Alas many will never reopen again. Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge owners gave notice of intent to appoint administrators, and 61 of the 80 branches of Tex-Mex chain Chiquitos will be closing permanently.
What we all can expect is every restaurant and pub, shut down through lockdown, when reopening, will adapt and innovate on how they operate.
Will you book a table at your local restaurant when it reopens? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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