Weekend news bulletin for pubs - 6 and 7 June

The Morning Advertiser's editor Ed Bedington reviews the biggest news stories from the pub sector after another week in lockdown - including the latest on social distancing measures and plans to reopen Young's and Liberation Group pubs.

Further reading:

  • One-metre rule saves Danish pub from ‘impossible’ 70% capacity cut - After reopening under one-metre social distancing, a gastropub operator in Denmark’s capital has revealed that it would have been ‘impossible’ for his businesses to turn a profit had measures not been reduced from two metres.
  • Two-metre distancing to stay despite cut calls from MPs - Housing minister Simon Clarke has revealed the Government intends to maintain two-metre social distancing despite calls from the hospitality sector and senior MPs for its reduction.
  • Young’s planning to open all pubs on 3 August - South-east-based pub group Young’s is looking to reopen all its sites later this summer (3 August), it has announced.
  • There’s no gold medal for reopening pubs first - Jayson Perfect says the tide is turning when it comes to reopening locked down sites at Channel Islands-based pub group Liberation – if only there was a word to describe the action of setting them free?
  • Liberation Group reveals first eight pubs to reopen post-lockdown - Channel Islands-based pub operator Liberation Group has revealed which of its pubs on Guernsey and Jersey will reopen first amid the lifting of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
  • ‘It is strongly in the public interest that the streets are reclaimed by experienced, licensed operators’ - There is not a publican alive who is not praying to all that is holy for a 4 July reopening – and doesn’t the date have a special resonance, with an aroma of liberty, courage and festivity?