PUBS will finally reopen on Monday following months of closure during the third national lockdown.
Brits can finally enjoy draft pints outdoors – but a number of coronavirus rules remain in place.
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Pubs were forced to shut again in January as coronavirus cases shot up, but will be permitted to open outdoors from Monday, April 12.
Indoor service will not resume until May 17 as part of Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown.
But it won’t be business as usual on April 12 – we take a look at the rules that punters will have to follow.
Check in with the NHS Covid app
Every pub-goer must check-in with the NHS Covid app to get a pint from April 12.
Punters must be able to be contact-traced via the app or by giving their contact details when a group enters a pub or restaurant.
When hospitality reopened in 2020, only the lead member of the group needed to provide contact details to check-in.
Book a test if you sit near an infected punter
Pub-goers will be told to book a test immediately if they sit near a drinker who has the virus in a pub when restrictions ease on April 12.
People who have been at the same venue as Covid-positive punters will receive an alert telling them to get tested – even if they don’t have symptoms.
But from today, twice-weekly free rapid Covid tests are available to everyone in England.
People will be able to collect or order batches of their free Covid tests – which provide results in just minutes – whether they have symptoms or not.
A mini-heatwave is expected next week just in time for the reopening of pub gardens.
Forecasters say seven days of sunshine will sweep the UK from Monday.
The mercury will hit a modest 12C at the start of next week – then rocket to 16C on Thursday.
And it will hold at 16C through until April 19.
Meanwhile, non-essential shops, hairdressers and theme parks, as well as restaurants with outdoor space, will all reopen in England on Monday.
But a legal loophole means even pubs without gardens can fling open their doors to customers next week.
That’s because boozers can serve alcohol in any outdoor area, such as a car park.
