UK’s Wetherspoon to open outdoor areas at 394 pubs in April

Britain’s JD Wetherspoon said on Thursday it would open patios, beer and roof-top gardens at 394 of its pubs in England next month when COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease for hospitality businesses.

According to the government’s four-stage plan to relax England’s latest lockdown, restaurants and pubs will be allowed to serve people sat at outside tables with social distancing rules from April 12.

Britain also announced additional support for the hospitality sector on Wednesday, including a continued reduction in business rates, extending a value-added tax cut on food and non-alcoholic drinks and extending the furlough scheme to September.

Wetherspoon, which runs around 870 pubs in the United Kingdom, said it would offer a slightly reduced menu to include breakfast, burgers, pizza, deli deals, fish and chips and British classics.

The company’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, an outspoken critic of coronavirus restrictions, had last month called on the government to open pubs at the same time as non-essential shops reopen.

“This (support) should provide operators with confidence to manage the immediate pain of the continued enforced closure, and support a recovery in sales, profit and cash in the months ahead,” Liberum analysts said on Thursday.

Revolution Bars also said it would reopen 20 bars next month and expects significant pent-up demand to result in a rapid rebound in performance.

Restaurants and pubs can open indoor dining areas from May 17, according to the UK government.