When you can go back to your local Greene King pub in Peterborough

The Bury St Edmunds-based company includes the likes of the Harrier at Gunthorpe; Halcyon at Westwood; Woodman at Thorpe Wood; Crab and Winkle at Werrington; Coopers at Bretton; Gordon Arms at Orton Longueville; Boathouse at Thorpe Meadows; and Mulberry Tree Farm at Hampton Vale among its stable of 1,700 managed pubs.

1,294 will open on July 6, with the remaining following in the second phase of reopening, the date for that is still to be confirmed.

A spokesperson for Greene King said: “We welcome the news that pubs, alongside other hospitality venues, can open their doors again from next month. Pubs play an important role at the very heart of their communities and have been sorely missed by customers as well as those who work in them.

“We have decided to open our managed pubs from Monday 6 July so we can open as many as possible with our Pubsafe promises in place for the safety of our customers and team members. We look forward to welcoming back customers to our pubs and providing that great hospitable pub experience we all love.

“People wishing to book a table at their local Greene King managed pub will be able to do so via the Greene King app, which will be live for bookings from midday today (June 26)”

Pubsafe is designed to look after team members and ensure customers can socialise safely. The Pub Safe Promises scheme centres around hygiene and safety, while maintaining the atmosphere of the Great British pub, and includes the following five promises:

1: Safe socialising layout throughout our pubs

2: Looking after our team, so they can look after our customers

3: Minimise contact

4: Hand sanitising and hygiene

5: Pub Safe Monitor

Underpinning each promise are detailed practical measures Greene King will introduce, alongside ways in which customers can enjoy the pub experience but keep themselves and those around them safe too.

A new safe socialising layout is being introduced in the pubs, with clear signage to direct customers through the pub. Tables will be spaced out further in-line with any government guidelines and customers will be encouraged to pre-book a table rather than stand at the bar. The bar service area will have perspex screens and screening will be positioned between booths where necessary. There will be new one-in-one-out red and green indicators at the entrances to the toilets so customers can flip the indicator with their elbow as they enter and exit, with toilets cleaned every 15 minutes.

As part of its commitment to keep team members safe Greene King has invested £15 million in Pub Safe related measures for a phased reopening, including protective measures for teams and customers. Teams are undergoing comprehensive training ahead of reopening and will be temperature checked ahead of every shift. Investment is also being made in additional team members to keep hygiene standards high.

As part of its pledge to minimise contact between team members and customers, Greene King is rolling out its Order and Pay app, ahead of schedule, to all its managed pubs. Customers will be encouraged to download it and place food and drink orders from the comfort of their table, paying contactless via the app. The pubs will provide one-time-use menus that customers can take away or be disposed of in a sustainable way at the pub, cutlery will be wrapped and condiments in sachets or in fresh ramekins.