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After a few false starts (remember the fabled June 21?), lockdown restrictions have now come to an end. We’ve been back at restaurants and pubs for a while now, albeit in a socially distanced – and prior to that, brutally alfresco – manner but what does ‘Freedom Day’ mean for the capital’s hospitality industry?
Quite a few things, actually.
The end of social distancing means that capacities of pubs and restaurants will return to that of pre-pandemic times, meaning that if your fave gaffs had taken out tables to ensure that people weren’t breaking the one-metre rule, they’ll now be allowed to bring them back in again. You'll also be able to order your drinks at the bar, rather than faffing over an app. However, in some pubs table service will remain, including ‘most’ Shepherd Neame pubs. However, Wetherspoons are encouraging their visitors to order drinks from the bar and facemask-wearing will be at staff discretion.
Facemasks will no longer be mandatory – as they will remain on public transport – so you don't need to wear them unless you want to. And if you do that’s totally fine by us. However, some restaurants, including Nobu, have stated that their staff will continue to wear masks and are encouraging their guests to do the same. If you’re not sure what a restaurant or pub’s policy is, just ask them.
In a wider sense, the end of social distancing also means that places where it’s impossible to be too far away from anyone – aka nightclubs and gig venues without seating options – will be opening up again after almost a year and a half. A number of clubs, including Egg, last night opened their doors at midnight for the first time in almost 18 months. Festivals too should be fair game, which means, yes, you will get to see The Streets at Crystal Palace Bowl in August.
Got more than five mates? Want to eat with all of them at the same time even though you probably won’t be able to sustain a proper conversation with any of them over all the babbling? Well, you can! The ‘rule of six’ is over. Eat with your mates. Eat with other people’s mates. Eat with people you don’t even know or like. It’s all possible.
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