JD Wetherspoon is to invest an initial £11 million to ensure that its staff and customers are safe before its pubs reopen.
The popular pub chain is awaiting official instruction from the Scottish Government before reopening but will look to employ socially distancing measures.
Providing an update to The Herald a spokesman for the company said: “We are as keen as all other pub operators to open our pubs and are awaiting official news from the Scottish government.
“We will wait with interest to see when pubs will be allowed to reopen across Scotland.
“Our aim is to have all of our pubs in Scotland open immediately they are allowed to do so.”
Social distancing measures will result in the employment of two full-time staff per pub, slightly more for bigger pubs, who will regularly clean surfaces and touchpoints throughout the pubs.
The company will open its 75 pubs in Scotland as well as the other 800 across the UK and Republic of Ireland when it has the official go-ahead from the relevant governments.
READ MORE: New Wetherspoons pub to open in historic Glasgow tearoom
Under their plans, all of its pubs will have screens at the till point and screens will create seating areas where it is not possible to separate the tables to the social distancing requirement.
Wetherspoon will provide gloves, masks and protective eyewear to employees who can elect whether to wear them or not, subject to government guidelines.
There will be an average ten hand sanitiser dispensers around the pub, including at the entrance for customers and staff to use.
Every employee will need to complete and sign a daily health assessment questionnaire to confirm that they are fit to work. This will include having their temperature taken using a digital thermometer.
As part of their social distancing policy, staff will monitor the pub at all times in order to maintain standards with a member of staff on the door at peak times.
Where possible, the pubs will also use one entrance with a separate exit door with entry and exit points marked out by floor stickers and/or barriers. Clear printed information providing guidance to customers will also be visible upon entry.
Each pub will have a member of staff working full time (two or more staff per pub to cover all opening hours) to sanitise all the contact points during opening hours.
These will include door handles, allergen information screens, card payment machines and handrails.
Customers will be asked to use the Wetherspoon order and pay app, wherever possible, or pay at the bar using a credit/debit card and contactless, although cash will be accepted.
Staff will hand over all drinks holding the base of the glass and when ordered by the app they will be delivered to the table on a tray and placed on the table using the base of the glass.
READ MORE: Full list of JD Wetherspoon pubs set to close in Scotland
Food will be delivered to the table by a member of floor staff.
The pubs will also offer a slightly reduced menu and will provide sachets rather than their usual condiment bottles.
They will be open their usual opening hours and all staff will receive a full briefing and training on the new way of running the pubs.
Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said: “At present, the government have not confirmed any reopening date for pubs.
“However, it is important that we are prepared for any announcement.
“We have spent a number of weeks consulting with staff who work in our pubs, as well as area managers in order to draw up our plans.
“We have received more than 2,500 suggestions from our staff.
“The safety of our staff and customers is paramount.”
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