Council helps prepare restaurants, cafes and pubs to reopen

As the District looks forward to the majority of hospitality establishments reopening on 4 July, Horsham District Council is prioritising support for these businesses to ensure that they are able to provide a good customer experience, whilst continuing to meet their safety obligations to fight the spread of COVID-19.

In advance of the re-opening of many of the District’s cafes, pubs and restaurants, the Council wishes to clarify the safety measures, in line with Government guidance, regarding social distancing and social group sizes, which must be in place to ensure the safety of customers.

In particular the Council’s Environmental Health and Licensing team is keen to re-iterate that social distancing for these businesses remains at two metres both inside premises and in any garden or outdoor space.

If two metres distancing is not achievable in an establishment, then the distance can be reduced to a minimum of one metre, but only if other infection prevention measures are in place such as face coverings, screens between tables or orientating of seating arrangements, so that different patron groups are seated back to back, while maintaining one metre separation.

In terms of group sizing, groups of two households as well as their ‘support bubbles’ can meet inside a café, restaurant or pub, individuals from a mix of households can similarly meet, but only as a group of six people maximum and this can only be in an outside space such as a pub garden, not inside the establishment.

There are no limits on the number of the groups that can attend a premises at any one time, as long as appropriate social-distancing between the different groups is maintained.

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy Cllr Paul Clarke said:

“We’re delighted that so many local hospitality businesses can begin trading again.

It goes without saying that making customers safe and welcome is crucially important and we would urge that any business owner who is unclear about safety measures contact us directly for advice.

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy Cllr Paul Clarke

Cabinet Member for Community Matters and Wellbeing Cllr Tricia Youtan added:

“Whilst we are really pleased that our hospitality businesses can at last re-open, we must remain mindful that that they do so in as safe and secure a manner as possible, for both the traders themselves and their staff, as well as their customers.

“Please do follow the safety guidance we are making available and if you have any queries, do contact our environmental health specialists.”

Cabinet Member for Community Matters and Wellbeing Cllr Tricia Youtan

The UK Government’s guidance on keeping workers and customers safe during COVID-19 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery

The Environmental Health & Licensing team can be contacted on 01403 215615 or by email at publichealth.licensing@horsham.gov.uk .

For media queries please email press@horsham.gov.uk .