Lincoln bars and pubs ready for reopening weekend

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.

Craft

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:

Imp & Angel

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