See what two local pubs have planned
Bars, pubs and restaurants in and around Lincoln are getting ready to reopen on Saturday as the country tries to gradually ease back into a kind of ‘new normal’ after more than 100 days of coronavirus lockdown.
Several venue will be doing table service only and minimal staff contact is encouraged as part of the government guidelines, while some are allowing socially distanced ordering at the bar behind protective screens.
The Lincolnite spoke to the managers at Craft and The Imp & Angel micropub about how they planned to reopen on July 4.
See latest list of pubs and restaurants opening in and around Lincoln on July 4.
What Craft looks like inside ahead of reopening on July 4. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
On arrival, customers will be greeted by staff and have to scan a QR code using the camera on their phone for track and trace purposes.
They will then be taken to their seats – tables in the bar have been spaced out to follow social distancing guidelines.
Clear guidance is signposted for customers at Craft. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Craft will open from 12pm on Saturday. It will have a reduced capacity of 160 people, including outside.
Orders can be placed via an app or customers can go to the bar if they are stood on the appropriate socially distanced markings. Table booking is not required, but if the bar reaches its permitted capacity it will stop letting people in.
Customers at Craft will be encouraged to use the app, but can still order at the bar providing they stand in the appropriate markings. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Make sure you follow and use the socially distanced floor markings at Craft. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
David Nejrup, Operations Manager at Craft, said: “We are feeling excited. It is an encouraging first step back to some sort of normal.
“We had a full team training day yesterday (July 2). We understand things will be different for a while and there will be challenges along the way, but we are excited to get back.”
David added that owners Redmed Ltd are opening Craft to understand how customers are going to use the facilities. The intention is to then open The Curiosity Shop and the ground floor of Home, which will operate as a bar, in the coming weeks.
The adapted beer garden at Craft. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The food and cocktail menu will be limited slightly, but you’ll still be able to get many of your favourites at Craft. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Make sure you use the hand sanitiser stations provided. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Axholme Media produced another video for Craft to show how the track and trace and app ordering will work:
Lee Lucas (right), owner of the Imp & Angel, with Kev Brown (left), who helped build the bar. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lee Lucas, owner of the Imp & Angel micropub on the High Street, said: “It will be great to be back and we are observing the rules strictly. As a responsible landlord the message we want to get out is for people to adhere to the rules so it can be short-term, because none of us can afford a second lockdown as that would financially ruin us all.
“The onus is on landlords and bar staff to qualify what their client’s circumstances are so we can avoid a second spike. The guidelines make sense if people follow them and we are looking forward to being back.”
Stools and tables have been spaced out more inside The Imp & Angel. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Inside The Imp & Angel. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The micropub on lower Lincoln High Streetnormally has a capacity of around 35. On Saturday the exact capacity will depend on social bubbles.
Lee said the worst case scenario would be only 11, if people are all from different households, but if customers are from the same social bubble more will be allowed in. No booking is required, but capacity will be limited.
Customers will need to use hand sanitiser on arrival and when leaving The Imp & Angel. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Name and arrival time will be recorded, along with a customer phone number if they feel comfortable to do so, but the latter is not compulsory. Hand sanitiser must also be used on arrival and exit from the pub.
Walkabout is one of the many bars reopening on July 4. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Walkabout’s guidance ahead of its reopening on July 4. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Fewer cases but more deaths this week
There have been 1,643 new coronavirus cases and 83 COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire this week – compared to 1,670 cases and 71 deaths last week.
Some 304 new cases and 17 deaths were reported in Greater Lincolnshire on Friday – the third day in a row with 17 deaths.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 252 new cases in Lincolnshire, 28 in North Lincolnshire and 24 in North East Lincolnshire.
On Friday, 14 deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, two in North East Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported six new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, four at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) and one at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals. Some 51 hospital deaths have been recorded this week, compared to 48 last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 40,261 to 3,583,907, while deaths rose by 1,401 to 95,981.
Lincolnshire health bosses estimate that 80-90% of new coronavirus cases in the county are now a mutant, more infectious strain of COVID.
Figures earlier this week said that by January 8, 59.2% of cases had confirmed the new virus — up from 36% by the end of 2020 — and now county leaders estimate the number to be even higher.
The COVID mutation that has taken over most new cases in Lincolnshire is not only more infectious, but also more deadly, it has been revealed.
NHS bosses are hoping to offer all care homes in Lincolnshire the first COVID vaccine dose by the end of the week. This comes as almost 5.4 million people have received jabs nationally.
Director of Nursing at Lincolnshire CCG Martin Fahy told BBC Radio Lincolnshire that about three quarters has been completed so far.
A single week in December saw Lincolnshire deaths reach 13 times the yearly average, explained local health bosses frustrated with COVID deniers.
Lincolnshire County Council’s Director of Public Health Professor Derek Ward explained that the week including December 14 would usually see an average of 23 deaths, but 2020 say 301 deaths that week.
In national news, there are no plans to pay everyone in England who tests positive for COVID-19 £500 to self-isolate, No 10 has said.
The PM’s official spokesman said there was already a £500 payment available for those on low incomes who could not work from home and had to isolate.
The coronavirus R number in the UK has fallen sharply since last week, suggesting the lockdown is slowing the spread of coronavirus.
The R, which refers to the number of people that an infected person will pass COVID-19 on to, is between 0.8 and 1 across the UK, according to the figures released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass the virus on to between eight and 10 others.
Lincoln City has taken the top spot with the highest infection rate in Greater Lincolnshire.
This week saw South Holland at the top which was put down to two outbreaks in care homes with up to 100 cases. South Holland has now dropped to third place in the region.
Greater Lincolnshire still remains way below the national average infection rate of 472.9, with just 217.3 per 100,000 of the population.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate over the last seven days up to January 22 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 15 to Jan 22. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
45,645 cases (up 304)
1,760 deaths (up 17)
of which 1,047 hospital deaths (up 11)
3,583,907 UK cases, 95,981 deaths
The charity project turned into a business
A Lincoln couple will reopen their independent pizzeria at a new location on Friday night, with an array of main and signature pizzas and Belgian waffles.
Weirdough’s Pizza Emporium will open at Tap & Spile on Hungate from 5pm on Friday, January 22, but it initially started out as a charity project making Neo-Neapolitan pizzas.
Husband and wife team Matt and Rachel Barnes have lived in Lincoln for around five years and last year they wanted to do something to raise money for the NHS.
Matt starting to prepare a pizza. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Kneading the dough. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Matt used to work at a Lincoln school, but they were closed to most pupils for a few weeks in March, so he started working on a project and Weirdoughs Pizza Emporium was born.
It was initially run from The West End Tap from the end of last summer, but in January the pub announced it would not reopen again under its current management, so Weirdoughs had to find a new premises.
The base ready for the next stage of the pizza making. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Matt putting the pizza into the oven. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The tasty pizza in the oven. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Adding the finishing touches to the pizza. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
All profits made from the food sold – just under £2,000 – went to the NHS. The couple also did some drop offs at the coronavirus ward at Lincoln County Hospital.
Matt was made redundant at the end of May and Rachel was due to give birth four weeks after that.
It was a hectic time for the couple as Rachel, who works at a primary school in Peterborough, would be on maternity leave and Matt would soon have no income.
The Margz main pizza – San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Weirdough – San Marzano tomatoes, parmesan, Emmental, mozzarella, red onions, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, spicy Nduja sausage, rocket, balsamic glaze and garlic drizzle. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
As the pizzas were working so well and following feedback from customers, the couple decided to turn it into a business.
Dan Neale, who previously ran the West End Tap, has joined the Weirdoughs team of four as a pizza chef.
Or why not try a Create Your Own Weirdoughs Waffle? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The dough is homemade 24 hours ahead to make their special main and signature pizzas, while customers can also order a create your own Weirdoughs waffle.
The Belgian waffles come with a variety of toppings such as Kinder Bueno, Crunchie, and Galaxy Caramel, with sauces including white and milk chocolate, salted caramel and toffee, with ice cream.
Weirdoughs will open Friday to Sunday 5pm-9pm and Wednesday to Thursday 5pm-8pm for takeaway or delivery.
Pre-ordering is advised via Facebook or Instagram or by calling 07734 297 035, with the latter option preferred if it is after 4.30pm.
Owner Matt Barnes will help meet your pizza needs. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Delivery is available to the following areas: Ermine, St Giles, Monks Road, High Street, Bailgate, Boultham, West End and the city centre.
Weirdoughs will try and accommodate other areas too, but it may incur additional charges, while the takeaway will also be joining Uber Eats in the near future.
Weirdoughs will be based inside the Tap & Spile pub in Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Once pubs are allowed to reopen again, customers at the Tap & Spile will able to order Weirdoughs food straight to their table and Matt said he can’t wait for people to able to experience it that way.
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