Blogs
Restaurant and Pub Reopening Checklist
Restaurants, cafes and pubs look set to reopen for indoor diners in the coming days, so here’s our no-nonsense, quick-fire list of things to check before opening your doors.
Latest news
Before we get onto the checklist, let’s recap the current roadmap for pubs and restaurants across the UK:
England
Pubs with outdoor spaces were allowed to reopen in England on Monday 12 April.
- Rule of six in place
- Table service only and everyone must sit outside, only going indoors to use the toilet
- No requirement to order a “substantial meal” alongside alcohol
From 17 May, establishments can reopen indoors again. The rule of six applies inside, and groups of up to 30 will be allowed outdoors.
Scotland
Pubs and restaurants in Scotland were permitted to reopen from 26 April, with a “modified” version of level three restrictions for indoor and outdoor services.
- Rule of six in place outdoors, from up to three different households.
- Alcohol sales allowed, with no requirement to serve food alongside it
- All venues must close by 10pm
- Indoor groups limited to four, from a maximum of two households. No alcohol can be served, and service after 8pm is prohibited
From 17 May:
- alcohol may be served indoors again
- Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 10.30pm, with alcohol sales outdoors allowed until 10pm
- Customers will be given two-hour slots
Wales
Pubs and restaurants have been allowed to open outdoors from 26 April, with indoor services going forward to follow England’s on May 17. Although details are yet to be formally announced, it is thought they will include:
- The rule of four or six
- Table service only
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has allowed pubs and restaurants to open their outdoor areas from 30 April. There’s a graduated roadmap in place:
- Pubs and restaurants will be table service only, and “wet pubs” – pubs that do not serve food – will have to remain closed
- Rule of six from two households
- Arrangements for indoor dining to be announced
Checklist
Legal and compliance
- Check latest national guidelines
- Ensure all licences and operating permits are in date and valid
Health & Safety
Review Food Safety Management system and re-document as necessary:
- Food preparation
- Customer interactions
- Workflows
- Control measures
- Cleaning schedules
- Carry out risk assessments
Review and amend physical infrastructure for social distancing:
- Signage
- Hand sanitizer stations
- Screens
- Identify and minimise touch-points (e.g. hand-held menus, condiment dispensers etc.)
Check for and rectify possible pest control issues
Staffing
Check all staff rotas are in place with staff availability confirmed.
Consider the opportunity to bring in staff with the best track records
Make clear to staff their own responsibilities under social distancing guidelines and personal hygiene
Carry out training needs analysis, to ensure staff are up to speed after their prolonged absence. Carry out any training required.
Ensure all personal alcohol licenses are valid
Supply chain
Contact food and sundry suppliers and establish opening times and delivery schedules
Contact waste disposal companies to ensure continuity of waste services
Confirm product availability and pricing
Carry out a stick check of essential items, including consumables
Ensure sufficient stocks of PPE
Review costs
Marketing communications
Communicate to customers that you’re reopening, and give them lots of information:
- Update website
- Use Facebook and Twitter
- Send emails
- Tell them what to expect
- Update voicemail messages
Technical Infrastructure
Check POS system is functioning with up to date pricing and inventory
Ensure effective track & trace protocols are in place
Check all moth-balled kitchen appliances for cleanliness and functionality
Test, flush and disinfect water system
Change telephone voicemail
Ensure the IT network, internet and Wi-Fi are secure and functional
Review booking and reservation systems
Sales and service
Establish new sales channels, such as meal kits, take-away and home dining
Ensure online booking is up to date, with e-menus
Establish methods for implementing waiting lists
Implement book-from-table and pay-from-table systems
We hope the above checklist is useful. If you have items we have missed, we would love to hear from you. Send your ideas to info@favouritetable.com.
Favouritetable provides reservation software, pre-booking modules, deposits and pre-payments functionality, take-away features backed by a full manager portal and a host of restaurant-centric features. We're passionate about restaurants, which is why we have developed the best value full-function restaurant software on the market.
Call us today on 033 0124 4785 or email us at info@favouritetable.com and we will be delighted to demonstrate what you will achieve with the right technology.