Bury St Edmunds: Greene King maps out how its pubs could reopen
Greene King, one of the largest employers in Bury St Edmunds, has mapped out how its pubs could reopen.
The brewery has given managers of its 1,700 chain pubs a checklist for ensuring safety and social distancing.
Chief executive Nick MacKenzie has called on the government to work towards relaxing measures to ensure pubs survive.
He said: "The safety of our customers and team members is always our number one priority and against the backdrop of a slow recovery from COVID-19. We are investing to put in place all the necessary arrangements."
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Greene King's 'Pub Safe' programme contains five points, all aimed at striving for the hygiene and safety - while maintaining pub atmosphere.
These are:
- A safe socialising layout: Signage will direct customers around the pubs, while tables will be spaced out. Customers will be encouraged to pre-book a table. There will be new one-in-one-out red and green indicators at the entrances to the toilets so customers can flip the indicator with their elbow as they enter and exit, with toilets cleaned every 15 minutes. The bar service area will have perspex screens and screening will be positioned between booths where necessary.
- Staff will be given specialist training, and will be temperature checked before every shift.
- Customers will be encouraged to order and pay from their table by an app.
- Staff will direct customers straight to a table upon arrival - with hand sanitiser ready to be used.
- A 'pub safe monitor' is in charge of ensuring cleanliness and can be spoken to with any concerns.
Read more: Quiz: Can you name the Bury St Edmunds pub?
Greene King's statement today (Friday, June 12) did not give any timescale for when the pubs will reopen.
"We hope these measures will be short lived."
Mr MacKenzie has acknowledged the pubs will not be financially viable within current restrictions.
“We are working towards a phased re-opening and are planning to open as many as we can. However, the future of our industry is reliant on continued support from government and reducing social distancing from two metres to one would make it possible for many more pubs across the country to be viable.”
“Many pubs across the country, including a number of our own, will not be financially viable or able to open for operational reasons with the current restrictions in place and we hope that, for the future of our industry, these measures will be short-lived."
