BrewDog reveals future for its bars

The 10-step plan includes contactless ordering via its order to table Hop Drop app, staff wearing face masks and gloves at all times, easily accessible sanitiser stations for all, and clearly visible social distancing signage and guidelines.

It also stated its proposals encompass amended furniture layouts to create appropriate space, staff monitoring capacity continually, cashless payment only via its app or card payment, single-use menus in use, physical table screens available on request and surface cleaning every 15 minutes.

Incredibly uncertain

BrewDog chief operating officer David McDowall said: “This is a hugely challenging time for our bars. Here at BrewDog, we are all longing for the day when our team is back in our bars, serving craft beer to our community.

“Although the future of hospitality businesses is incredibly uncertain, we remain optimistic. With that in mind, while we eagerly await official guidance from the Government, our bar teams have been working on various proposals.

“When we finally get our bars back open again, and our customers visit us to enjoy a well-deserved pint, we will ensure they do so with a very warm welcome, in a clean and safe environment.”

Furlough extension

This follows operators calling for a furlough extension amid concerns about trading under social distancing.

A further furlough extension would be “extremely important”​ to the future of pub businesses, 68% of pub operators said in response to a new Hospitality Leaders Poll launched this week by HIM/MCA Insight, a division of The Morning Advertiser​​’s parent company William Reed.

The weekly poll of 700 business leaders, including more than 380 pub bosses, from across the eating and drinking-out sector showed the sector will need a considerable amount of long-term financial support in the months ahead just to survive.