DRINKERS in some parts of England will be limited to TWO hours in the pub when boozers reopen tomorrow.
It comes as Brits are preparing for their first pint three months after pubs were ordered to temporarily close amid the coronavirus crisis.
Some boozers are set to open as early as 6am on Super Saturday, July 4, as the government's easing of lockdown rules come into force.
Restaurants and cafes are also allowed to start serving customers again and not just for takeaways.
But in Devon and Cornwall, punters have been told they’ll only be allowed to spend two hours in their local.
Warning of an influx of people, Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer of the Devon and Cornwall Police told the Mid-Devon Advertiser: “Our licensed and hospitality industry will re-open on Saturday, but it will be a very different experience for those going to a pub or restaurant.
“I strongly encourage you to book your visit and you will be restricted to two hours in an establishment.”
But it won't just be in Devon and Cornwall where pub-goers will find themselves on a time limit.
Some pubs in Birmingham, Gloucestershire and Bournemouth are also taking bookings for two to three-hour slots.
The same goes for a selection of boozers in Peterborough and Derbyshire.
However, the government has said this would not be a rule implemented across the country – instead, it will be down to individual areas to enforce any time restrictions.
A spokesperson said it was "not part of the regulations… pubs and restaurants in particular do sometimes put time-limits you can have a table for".
It comes as the two-metre distance rule is also being cut to one metre to give venues the chance to let more people in.
Full list of businesses that CAN reopen from July 4
SEVERAL businesses will be allowed to reopen from tomorrow, including the following:
- Hotels, hostels bed and breakfast accommodation, holiday apartments or homes, cottages or bungalows, campsites, caravan parks or boarding houses
- Places of Worship
- Libraries
- Community Centres
- Restaurants, Cafes and Workplace Canteens
- Bars
- Pubs
- Cinemas
- Bingo Halls
- Theatres and concert halls, but no live music
- Museums and galleries
- Hair salons and barbers
- Outdoor playgrounds
- Outdoor gyms
- Funfairs, theme parks and adventure parks and activities
- Amusement arcades
- Outdoor skating rinks
- Other indoor leisure centres or facilities, including indoor games, recreation and entertainment venues
- Social Clubs
- Model villages
- Indoor attractions at aquariums, zoos, safari parks, farms, wildlife centres and any place where animals are exhibited to the public as an attraction.
The Sun has asked Devon and Cornwall Police for more information about how they plan on enforcing time restrictions in pubs and we'll update this article when we know more.
In terms of big chains, Wetherspoon isn't taking any bookings for when it reopens 750 pubs tomorrow.
There won't be blanket time restrictions in place, but managers can ask people to leave.
Greene King isn't planning on welcoming back customers until Monday, July 6 – it's encouraging punters to book a table but hasn't said if it'll be enforcing time limits.
Pubs will look different when you next go for a pint, with screens, posters and floor markings to help keep customers safe.
Some pubs will also require you to order your drink via an app, while other places won't let customers order at the bar at all.
You'll also find fewer seats available, which may mean more competition for a table – for example, The Sun visited a Greene King pub where they had 60 per cent of their usual seating capacity.
In addition, all venues will have to keep contact details for each customer for at least 21 days, in case of an outbreak.
You'll still be able to watch the football too, although pubs will be forced to keep TV noise turned right now.
It comes after advice on whether pubs could show sport suggested showing games could be banned.
If you're planning on heading out this weekend, we've reported on a new map showing you which beer gardens will be open.
But some pubs aren't going to open at all on Saturday.
Gyms, nightclubs, nail salons and spas must remain closed for now as they still pose a risk to spread the virus.
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