Fareham landlord at the Delme Arms says he will need to double staff spend from July 4

Neil Matthews, landlord at the Delme Arms, in Cams Hill, welcomed the prime minister’s announcement pubs will be able to reopen on July 4.

The landlord, who previously won The News’s Pub of the Year 2020 award, said he will have to take on extra staff to cope with the restrictions.

Prime minister Boris Johnson laid out changes to Covid-19 lockdown, with social distancing reduced to one metre and pubs to reopen with table service. Customer’s details must be recorded to help track infections.

Neil, who has run the pub for more than four years, said: ‘It’s very welcome news.

‘We can’t wait to open again. We will be ready to open again on July 4.

A requirement to serve people at tables means the pub will need to take on additional staff.

Neil said: ‘The staff costs are going to have to double.’

The reduction of social distancing from two metres to one metre makes ‘all difference’ between the pub opening and remaining closed, he said.

Neil added: ‘One-metre distancing really helps with laying out tables for the table service.

‘If it had stayed at two metres, it probably would not have been worth opening.

‘For a small independent like myself, it makes a huge difference.’

And additional work will be created by the need to record visitors details for the government’s track and trace program.

He said: ‘You will have to closely monitor everyone to make sure you catch them as they come in and get them to sign out when they leave.

‘It will create more work, but I understand the thinking behind it.’

Returning trade will largely come down to the confidence of various age groups, having a knock-on effect on previously busy parts of the working day, according to the landlord.

Neil said: ‘My lunch time trade is 90 per cent older people.

‘So I don’t envision my lunch time trade being very busy.

‘With the young clientele, I think they will be more confident.’

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