Finally! Hospitality is opening again! From the 12th of April outdoor areas at hospitality venues can reopen to serve customers in groups of up to six people.
Beer gardens and restaurant terraces have opened for business, where customers can sit outside, order through table service, and are permitted to use the restroom facilities inside. At any premises, customers must order, eat, and drink seated. There will also be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and there will be no curfew.
What is considered as 'Outdoors'?
Shelters, Marquees, and other types of temporary coverings like this can have a roof but need to have at least 50% of the area of the walls open at all times.
Some popular pubs in Newcastle that have reopened their doors from the 12th are: By The River Brew CO, The Dog & Parrot, City Tavern, and Tyne Bar.
May 17th Indoors
However, from the 17th of May there are changes for the hospitality industry where we will see step three of the lockdown roadmap:
- The Rule of Six will come into effect indoors
- Indoor seating can resume in pubs and restaurants
This will mean that all pubs that don't have outdoor seating will be able to open again. Venues will not have to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks; nor will there be a curfew. Customers will, however, have to order, eat and drink while seated.
Table spacing (floor plan)
Due to COVID-19 hospitality venues have needed to rearrange their table spacing to be in line with social distancing. Providing socially distanced seating and hand sanitiser stations is now essential to keep everyone safe. For this reason, reservations should be encouraged now more than ever, so businesses can have a more structured plan, and enforce seating time limits.
For more information, Book a Demo Today!
Reduce contact
Introducing contactless payments to reduce contact.
This method of payment is becoming a more convenient and efficient way to pay, the benefits are:
- Less queuing and waiting time for customers
- Customers can remain seated
- Staff will have better control and time management
- Quicker and safer transactions
People safety
Being in a national lockdown has affected everyone. Recent studies from the Office for National Statistics show that 37.25% of people have experienced high levels of anxiety in Great Britain from the 20th - 25th January 2021. We all understand how challenging 2020 has been, and businesses will want to make 2021 as normal and relaxed as possible for themselves and their customers when opening.
To do this, new measures have been gently put into place over the last year: creating a one way system inside to use the restrooms will be very important, and reducing queuing throughout by getting customers to pay at their table instead of going to the bar.
Learn more about SPARK's handheld devices today!
Customer outlook.
We had a look at what pub owners and customers have said about re-opening businesses:
Scott Westlake, the landlord of the Myrtle Tavern in Leeds, said "The pub had received 5,000 bookings over the next month as coronavirus restrictions ease across England."
Mr Westlake said: "If the weather's good, I think most people are optimistic and excited."
"Atmosphere, ambiance, seeing your mates, I think they (customers) are looking forward to that more than anything - and they'll sit in a blizzard for the first few days at least."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-leeds-56725496
A student from Leeds said, "It feels amazing, this is the first time going out and actually having a life."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56710858
Products suited to reopening?
SPARK's Mobile Ordering system will help venues be covid secure as the self-Ordering technology reduces unnecessary physical touch-points. It allows customers to scan a QR code and place orders using their mobile device where they have full access to a menu without downloading any apps. By using mobile self-Ordering and payments this reduces labour and costs, and most importantly reduces the risk of COVID-19 transmission by having fewer contact points between customers and waiting staff.
SPARK Pay, a handheld device that has many features:
- Contactless payments
- Bill splitting
- Covid friendly, making it safe for customers and staff
- Giving you a receipt at the end (which can be customised)
- Accept different payment methods
Our cutting-edge technology ensures that the system is regularly updated, all for free!
See how SPARK Pay can boost your business today!
June 21st Back to normal
From the 21st of June, the government hopes to reopen nightclubs, ease the restrictions on large events and performances, and have no legal limits on social contact. However, as we move through the roadmap, COVID-19 will remain in our lives and we are going to have to still take precautions to keep ourselves and others safe by carrying on the "Hands, Face, Space".
How SPARK can help your venue
SPARK EPoS can be specifically tailored to your hospitality needs, accommodating your customer’s requests. For example making their experience more personalised by creating a CRM profile, pre-empting their needs, customising meals/drinks if they have any specific allergies/intolerances.
Staff can create notes on customers that arrive at your venue, such as they might prefer a window seat, or a bottle of wine at their table on arrival. All of this preparation creates good customer management which is essential for hospitality businesses. With SPARK technology you will be able to do this, at an affordable price.
