Pubs and outdoor venues are hard at work preparing for a long-awaited reopening next week.
Beer gardens are booked up for weeks and zoos and theme parks are ensuring they are Covid-secure before England moves into the second step of lifting lockdown on Monday.
A 400-seat beer garden at Alexandra Palace, which claims to be the largest in London, already has 25,000 slots booked, running into June. Louise Stewart, its chief executive, said: “The response to reopening the Terrace has been phenomenal. It shows how keen people are to socialise and have a bit of normality. We can’t wait to do what we do best.”
Publicans are excited to welcome back loyal customers but many have lamented the restriction on indoor service, which is in place until May 17 at least. Tim Foster, owner of the Yummy Pubs chain, which has four outlets in London and Surrey, said: “I am ecstatic [but] I feel like I’m having to operate with one hand tied behind my back while doing a three-legged race at the same time.”
He has invested £180,000 in the outdoor area of the Wiremill, his flagship pub in Lingfield, Surrey and it now has space for 164 customers under a retractable roof that can be deployed in seconds, a feature he hopes will encourage customers to drop in for a pint in the event of April showers.
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The Swettenham Arms near Congleton, Cheshire, has taken a similar tack, setting up marquees outside.
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park, on 175 acres near Doncaster, has added a new reserve, the Atlantic Forest. John Minion, chief executive, said: “We are really looking forward to being able to reopen all our outdoor play areas and outdoor café seating areas. We are well practised now at implementing Covid precautions and we are lucky to be an outdoor attraction on a spacious site. Let’s hope that 2021 turns around to be a good year for all tourism.”
Theme parks are hoping to bring some excitement to the lives of children who have been stuck indoors through months of lockdown. Wicksteed Park in Kettering, Northamptonshire, which claims to be the oldest theme park on the mainland, will open a selection of its 30 rides and attractions from April 17. Rachel James, a spokeswoman, said: “We can’t wait to welcome everyone back after a difficult year.”