St Austell Brewery is to re-open its managed pub estate on 4th July — the day that pubs in England are allowed to resume trading. More than 70% of the company’s 147 tenanted pubs will also re-open next weekend, with the rest planning to in the weeks ahead.

The company has introduced a number of extra measures in its managed pubs to keep teams and customers safe. In addition to being able to book tables online, guests will be greeted at the door and shown to their seat. They will have the option of table service or using the brewery’s new Easy Orders app to pay for their food and drink. The company has also introduced one-way systems in all of its pubs, with entrance and exit points, to encourage social distancing.

Customers will be encouraged to pay by card and make regular use of sanitising stations throughout the pub. Every site has new safety signage, including floor stickers, to reassure and inform. All tables — inside and outside — will be spaced apart in adherence with government guidelines.

St Austell’s pub teams will receive training in cleanliness and hygiene, and there will be a team member dedicated to cleaning customer touch points, regularly throughout the day, including door handles, tables, and menu displays.

Steve Worrall, managing director of St Austell Brewery’s pubs, inns, and hotels, said: “We’ve decided to re-open our managed houses from 4th July and have invested in all of the necessary measures to keep people safe, while ensuring the same authentic pub experience that people have been missing. 

“Our customers may notice some small differences when they come back and see us, but our usual warm welcome and great hospitality hasn’t changed. Even in these unusual times, we can offer the same delicious food, fresh draught beers, and comfortable rooms, for those planning a trip this summer. We hope that the safety measures we’ve taken will be a comfort to our guests and provide peace of mind, while they’re taking the time to reconnect with their friends and family.

“We know for so many, pubs play an important role at the very heart of communities. We’re looking forward to welcoming our locals, and visitors to the West Country, back to our pubs next weekend.”

The Rock Point Inn, in Lyme Regis, St Austell Brewery’s first managed house in Dorset, will open for the first time in mid-July.