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The City Pub readies for possible July re-opening

Published: 19:59 26 May 2020 AEST

City of London Investment Trust -

London and southern England-focused The City Pub Group PLC (LON:CTY) has started to spruce up its beer gardens ahead of a potential re-opening in July.

Indications from the government are that pubs might be able to resume trading in the first week of July, but those with gardens will be first.

Clive Watson, executive chairman, told the Standard, that it had drawn up a number of options for its pubs with outdoor seating.

Initially, it will look to keep customers outside with staff (wearing gloves and masks) taking orders and going inside to pick them up and bring them out again.

City Pub, which owns 47 outlets, is also planning cashless bars, limited menus in its outlets with beer gardens and plastic glasses, paper plates and wooden cutlery to replace glasses, ceramics and metal knives and forks.

 “As pubs start to reopen it’s important that this is done with the safety of staff and customers being of paramount importance,” Watson told the paper.

"We will only open pubs where we can guarantee this safety.”

The group raised £22mln in March and April through share issues to shore up its financial position.

Last Friday, JD Wetherspoon (LON:JDW) also unveiled its plans to cope with new social distancing rules when lockdown restrictions are eased.

These included staff dedicated to enforcing distances between customers, hygiene screens at the bar, one-way service and hand sanitisers as customers enter the premises.

Shares in City Pub rose 3% to 74p today and in Wetherspoon's by 11% to 1,125p.

 


 

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