PUBS and restaurants can open their doors again today following months of closures due to lockdown.
Boris Johnson confirmed last week that England can enter stage two of his roadmap out of lockdown as planned, easing the country further towards normality.
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Hospitality businesses have been given the green light to reopen for outside service – but customers won't be able to sit indoors until at least May 17.
Reopening comes as a relief for boozers and drinkers who've not been able to sip on a pub pint since England was plunged into a third lockdown on January 4.
In areas that were placed into Tier 4 shortly after the second lockdown, the hospitality industry has been closed for even longer.
Throughout lockdown, restaurants and pubs could offer takeaway and home delivery services – but some chose not to.
Timeline for businesses reopening after lockdown
PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has outlined his roadmap for easing England out of lockdown.
Businesses will be allowed to reopen on the following dates, as long as the "four steps to freedom" are met.
TODAY – April 12
- Retail
- Hospitality outdoors
- Hairdressers
- Zoos
- Self-catered staycations with one household
May 17
- Indoor hospitality
- Indoor exercise gyms
- Bingo halls
- Cinemas
- Sports stadiums to reopen but capped to 10,000 fans
- Saunas
- Spas
June 21
- Nightclubs
Meanwhile, the plans to allow outdoor-only dining from today have previously been slammed by pub bosses who warned "a majority" of businesses will stay shut due the restrictions.
For those keen to eat or drink out today, we round up the food chains that will be open for outdoor dining.
All Bar One
All Bar One is reopening eight of its 52 UK bars for outdoor drinks today, but it's yet to confirm which ones.
You can find your nearest All Bar One branch by checking the locator tool.
The chain is owned by Mitchells & Butlers, which has previously warned that the majority of its venues will remain shut until May.
ASK Italian
ASK Italian is opening 41 out of 65 restaurants for outdoor service today.
Customers will then be able to sit inside to eat and drink from May 17.
You can find your nearest ASK Italian branch by using its restaurant locator tool.
Byron
Byron has confirmed it is opening 17 of its 20 restaurants today for outside seating – and some will have Brooklyn beer bars.
Restaurants will open with normal working hours, which are usually between 12pm until 9pm or 10pm. You can find your local here.
Last month, the chain said it had already seen an uptick in the number of bookings since the announcement.
Five Guys
Five Guys fans can dine outdoors at 48 restaurants in England from today – you can check out the full list here.
The fast food chain then plans to reopen the remaining 49 branches in England for indoor service from May 17.
Five Guys has 112 branches across the UK, of which 97 are in England, nine in Scotland, and three each in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Fans will be pleased to know that the full Five Guys menu will be available from Monday, including burgers, fries and milkshakes.
Franco Manca
The Franco Manca pizza chain is reopening all 38 of its branches with outdoor dining spaces today.
The pizzeria has 52 branches in total, 14 of which don't have outdoor spacve.
Customers won't be able to book a table to eat outside – instead, you can join a virtual queue when you're within 500 metres of a restaurant.
It'll then text you when your table is ready.
Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Firejacks
Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Firejacks – which are all owned by the Restaurant Group – is reopening select restaurants from today.
The restaurant chains don't take table bookings though, so you'll need to pop in and hope there's a table.
We've listed the branches reopening for outdoor dining below.
The Restaurant Group has around 400 restaurants across the UK.
Which branches are opening for dine-in?
THE below Frankie & Benny’s, Chiquito and Firejacks branches are reopening on Monday.
Chiquito
- Bolton – Middlebrook
- Peterborough – Pavilions West
- Northampton Sixfields
- Stoke – Potteries
- Liverpool Edge Lane
- Leicester
- Rochester
- Cheshire Oaks
- Ashton Moss
Frankie & Benny's
- Trafford Centre
- Ashton Moss
- Peterborough – Pavilions West
- Birmingham – The Fort
- Bury – The Rock
- Wembley
- Peterborough
- Street – Clarks Village
- Warrington – Burtonwood
- Exeter – Marsh Barton
- Oldham
- Fareham
- Doncaster
- Portsmouth – Gunwhaf Quay
- Leicester – Highcross
- Trowbridge
- Gillingham – Hempstead Valley
- Birmingham – Plaza
- Northampton – Riverside
- Dudley
- Rotherham
- Denton (Fb)
- Greenwich – Retail Park
- Liverpool Edge Lane
- Norwich – Riverside
- Kings Lynn
- Lincoln
- Leicester
- Plymouth
- Basildon – Festival Park
- Sheffield Arena
- Kirkstall
- Stevenage
- Thanet
- Cribbs Causeway
- Aintree
- Swindon
- Colchester
- Birmingham – Great Park
- Cheshire Oaks
- Ashford
- Stoke – Trentham Gardens
Firejacks
- Northampton Sixfields
- Stevenage
Fuller's
Pub chain Fuller's is reopening more than 180 branches for al fresco dining and drinking on Monday.
As part of the plans, 181 of Fuller's pubs with gardens will welcome back punters again- plus another two will open for takeaway only.
The branches are located in cities and areas such as London and the South East – you can find the full list here.
Fuller's also opened for table bookings at the pubs for outdoor service, and you can book yours by using its branch locator tool on its website.
Greene King
Punters can raise a glass with their mates or family in 442 Greene King pubs across England today.
This only represents around a third of its estate where there is outdoor space available.
Some pubs have reduced opening hours and menus which will be updated on their own individual website.
There are 1,700 Greene King pubs around the UK. You can find your nearest one by checking its branch locator tool.
Harvester
Harvester is also owned by Mitchells & Butlers, and it told The Sun it's reopening eight restaurants today.
It's yet to confirm which ones though, so we'll update this article once we hear back.
Some opening times will vary as well, so it's best to check which branches are open – and at what time – using Harvester's pub locator tool.
There are over 230 Harvester venues in the UK.
Honest Burgers
The chain told The Sun it plans to open 26 restaurants for outdoor dining on Monday, these are located in:
- Borough
- Brighton
- Bristol
- Brixton
- Camden
- Cardiff
- Chiswick
- Clapham
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Old Street
- Peckham
- Reading
- St Albans
- Warren Street
- Waterloo
- London Bridge
- Oxford Circus
- Southbank
- St Christopher's Place
- South Kensington
- Covent Garden
- Meard Street
- Baker Street
- Ealing
- Portobello
Honest Burgers has 45 restaurants across the UK, half of which were open for takeaways and deliveries during the third lockdown.
Until now, the other half remained closed due to lockdown restrictions.
Leon
Leon is opening roughly 25 restaurants that have outdoor seating from today, which is around a third of its 60 plus branches.
You can find your nearest one using the locator tool.
You can still grab a bite to eat from the chain even if you don't want to sit outside – Leon restaurants are currently open for takeaways and deliveries.
Marston's
Marston's is reopening 696 pubs for outdoor service today – around 70% of its estate in England.
The pub chain told The Sun that branches will be operating during normal opening hours, except where they serve guests breakfast.
McDonald's
McDonald's is reopening 443 branches for outdoor seating with table service only from today.
It said there’s be limited seating in some cases to make sure customers can socially distance.
McDonald’s is also urging customers keen to eat outdoors to order via the McDonald’s app to “minimise congestion” inside its restaurants.
If you do order at the kiosk, you must wear a face mask, unless you’re exempt.
McDonald’s said outdoor tables will be sanitised between use to help keep customers safe.
The chain recently reopened restaurants again for walk-in takeaways.
McDonald's has also still served customers through home delivery via Uber Eats and Just Eat, and drive-thrus.
Nando's
Nando's is reopening 267 restaurants for outdoor service today.
There are currently 450 Nando's branches in the UK, some of which are open for takeaways and deliveries.
You can find out where to get your Nando's fix using the branch locator tool.
O'Neills
Four O’Neill’s pubs will reopen today – these are located in Bournemouth, Great Marlborough Street, Watford and Solihull.
More O’Neill’s pubs, which are owned by Mitchells & Butlers, will then reopen later in the month.
The Great Marlborough Street branch opens at 10am today, while the rest open at 12pm.
Punters are being urged to check opening times on its website though, and to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
There are 49 of the Irish bars across the UK. All of them are closed at the moment due to lockdown restrictions.
Pho
The Vietnamese-inspired restaurant is opening branches that have outdoor seating today.
Its restaurants will be operating normal working hours and you can book a table online.
Pho will open 13 out of its 30 UK restaurants, weather dependent. These include:
- Balham
- Chiswick
- Ealing
- Wimbledon
- Brighton
- Exeter
- Guildford
- Leciester
- Oxford
- Portsmouth
- Sheffield
- Manchester
- Liverpool
Pizza Express
Pizza Express is reopening 118 of its 370 restaurants for outdoor dining today – you can check out the full list here.
To mark its reopening, Pizza Express is offering a free bottle of Peroni or non-alcohol alternative to everyone that is signed up to its mailing list.
You can book a table, and it's also accepting online bookings for May 17 onwards.
Around half – 180 – branches are currently open for click and collect and delivery across the UK.
Pret A Manger
Pret A Manger had 276 UK shops open for takeaway and delivery during the third lockdown, and as of today, the total number of open shops will hit 323.
The chain told The Sun it's keen to open as many as possible for outdoor dining.
It hasn't confirmed how many though, so it's best to check with your nearest one what services they offer.
Pret then plans to reopen all indoor seating areas from May 17.
Prezzo
Prezzo is reopening 70 restaurants for outside dining today.
The remaining 82 Prezzo restaurants will then open again for indoor service from May 17.
The branches open today will see customers sit in gardens, courtyards, terraces and "secret gardens".
Stonegate Pub Company
Stonegate Pub Company operates over 700 pubs and bars across the UK and is reopening around 45% of its England estate today.
The earliest some of the branches will reopen is from 8am, when they'll serve breakfast.
Opening times vary though, so it's best to check the pubs' websites to confirm.
You can find your nearest Stonegate Pub on its website.
TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays confirmed it's reopening 28 restaurants in England for outdoor dining from today.
As part of its reopening plans, Fridays is running a new outdoor menu that has been designed for al fresco dining.
The reduced offering still contains Fridays favourites such as sesame chicken strips, ultimate ribs, burgers and sharing plates.
There is also a "Top 10 Greatest Hits" list of cocktails including Purple Rain, Strawberry Daiquiri and Pornstar Martini.
Fridays has 80 restaurants across the UK in total, but around 65 of these are in England – meaning 37 branches won't reopen today.
Wagamama
Wagamama is welcoming customers back to 72 of its restaurants for outside dining today.
The noodles chain has 135 restaurants in the UK, many of which are open throughout lockdown for takeaways and deliveries.
Wagamama has never taken bookings and the chain says it's not going to start now.
Instead you just need to turn up and you will be seated quickly and safely.
Wetherspoons
The pub chain has confirmed a number of boozers are opening today.
Customers can sit in beer gardens, rooftop gardens and patios at 394 Wetherspoons branches.
Wetherspoons has 875 pubs in total across the UK, but not all have outdoor space so some won't be able to welcome back customers until later.
Boozers will open from 9am until 9pm from Sunday to Thursday, and from 9am until 10pm on Friday to Saturday.
Punters can order drinks and food although the chain is running a reduced menu while some restrictions remain in place.
Young's
Young's brewery told The Sun it is reopening 140 pubs from today.
It then plans to open all pubs by May 17, when indoor seating is permitted.
Opening times vary depending between locations, but they typically open their doors from 11am.
You can find your nearest Young's pub by checking its website.
Customers can book via the free app, pub website, over the phone or via email.
Zizzi
Zizzi is reopening 81 restaurants with outdoor seating from today.
The Italian food chain has a total of 132 restaurants across the UK. You can find your nearest on by using its branch locator tool.
You can still get your Zizzi fix if you don't want to sit outside for your meal, as the restaurant chain is running a takeaway service.
Punters will have to follow a strict set of rules when pubs and restaurants do open again.
Even for outdoor bookings, boozers must only offer table service and social distancing will still need to be observed.
In better news, the hated 10pm curfew will be scrapped and drinkers won't have to order a substantial meal with their alcohol, putting an end to the Scotch egg debate.
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