Kent Police is urging the public to take a “responsible approach” when bars, pubs and restaurants reopen tomorrow (July 4).
Many venues across the isle, and nationally, are able to reopen with covid measures in place following an easing of the coronavirus restrictions.
However, there are many changes to how venues can operate with social distancing requiring at least a one metre space, two metres ideally, between people, increased hygiene, cleaning and sanitising routines and a new law making gatherings of groups of more than 30 people, except for the limited circumstances as set out in law, illegal.
Pubs and restaurants will be able to use car parks and terraces as dining and drinking areas, using their existing seating licenses.
In a blow to many pubs and those in the performance and music industry venues are not allowed to host live performances, including drama, comedy and music.
Measures include separate entrance and exit routes, lowering capacity, staggering entry times with other venues and taking steps to avoid queues building up in surrounding areas.
Social distancing must also be applied to toilet facilities and venues are being asked to take details of customers in case test and trace measures are needed. Orders will be made via table service and payment should be contactless.
Kent Police say although venues are able to open the doors coronavirus is still a serious risk to health and certain restrictions remain in place to keep the public safe.
Although restrictions are being lifted people need to follow the Government’s guidance to mitigate the transmission of the virus, including social distancing, increased hygiene measures and following the instructions of staff.
Officers say people using the opportunity to drink to excess and become vulnerable to harm or cause harm to others will not be tolerated.
Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Claire Nix said: “Of course we want people to have fun, but they must remain responsible, sensible and mindful of restrictions still in place.
“Over recent weeks we have been working with local pubs, bars and restaurants to ensure we are all well prepared to maximise safety and cut crime.
“Across the county we will be taking any incidents of anti-social and criminal behaviour very seriously and perpetrators will be dealt with swiftly.
“I want to remind everyone who is planning to visit a pub, bar or restaurant on Saturday to know their limit, don’t put yourself or others at risk, plan your day and consider how you will get home safely.”
“be responsible”
That would be the same morons packing beeches out then.. good luck.
Half world are irresponsible
Alcoholics will love it
if i drank id rather sit in my garden than go to a pub at the moment, but they will all be out like they where when mc donalds opened up
Lots of pissed people legless
Screaming
Shouting
Anti social
What’s a pub good for?
I fell sorry for the police , i think this weekend they will be over run with drunken idiots causing trouble !
Alcohol ruins many lives don’t don’t let it ruin yours.
TDC shouldn’t licence bars selling alcohol on beaches, that is a recipe for disaster. We have all seen the moronic behaviour many get into with their drink, drugs and that dangerous poison Nox gas inhaling lark.
Do you think any of that crowd is going to listen to sense? Not likely. Boris is mad listening to his aids, but then he is mad anyway. He has got bored of lock downs obviously, but this is a serious pandemic and he leaves it all to guidlines that half the people ignore!
I gave up going to the pubs 20 years ago on a christmas / new years eve cos of the trouble caused by a few .
And a Saturday night WHAT ? After a few months.
I feel sorry for the police with they may have to deal with.
There’s already one pub that has essentially said bollocks to the local residents before even opening their doors, to which I will name and shame.
The St Lawrence Tavern has decided that they are above the new laws and will play sport l, even though the new rules state that they are not allowed to.
All I can say is, I look forward to the shouting and screaming, and hopefully, inevitable lockdown of that particular pub, for I know I will be reporting them each time I hear sport from their pub.