ADVICE
THE ADAPTED
Covid-19 RESTAURANT
SPACE
Ben Hartley, design lead at Café Reality (www.cafereality.co.uk) – a supplier to the commercial leisure market of furniture and related accessories - proposes how a restaurant space could be adapted to help be ‘Covid secure’. SOCIAL DISTANCING PROVISION The government’s plan for exiting the coronavirus lockdown targeted 4 July as the earliest date from which the hospitality sector could start to re-open, and while some pubs and restaurants remained open during lockdown for limited takeaway orders, this has not been economically viable for most pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants, and in some cases not possible at all. And now the biggest challenge when it comes to re-opening stems from accommodating the social distancing rules, as these establishments tend to be based on high turnover, low margin models. Another key factor that we are facing is the public’s confidence to return safely, in high numbers. We have spent the last three months practising social distancing and adapting to hygienic safety measures, so we will need to be confident that each social environment is 100% Covid-compliant. At Café Reality, we have created a Covid-19 compliant restaurant layout which takes into account the measures which have now been discussed, developed and proposed by government officials and professionals from the hospitality industry. WHAT SHOULD BE EXPECTED? On arrival and prior to entering, customers may be greeted by a member of staff who will be known as a ‘host’. Their role will be to welcome customers, show them to their tables and manage queues. There may also be a member of staff known as the ‘restaurant safety monitor’ who will be responsible for maintaining levels of hygiene to keep customers safe. This individual is also likely to be a clear point of contact for customers or members of staff who wish to raise any concerns surrounding hygiene levels. 54
STAFF WEARING MASKS AND GLOVES? If British pubs, for example, choose to follow the lead of other European establishments that have already re-opened their doors, then hosts and safety monitors in this environment, and indeed other members of staff, will very likely need to wear facemasks, and bar staff should also wear latex gloves when it comes to preparing drinks. CONTACTLESS ORDERING USING APPS Encourage customers to order food and drink via an app on their mobile phones. This has already been implemented by Wetherspoons, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and has proven to be extremely successful. The Hungrrr app, for instance, is one example which allows customers with an iPhone or android phone to order food and drinks without leaving their seat. A REDUCTION OF TABLES AND CHAIRS, CREATING MORE SPACE In order to manage social distancing, existing restaurant furniture, café tables and dining chairs, and alike, will need to be reduced, reconfigured and spaced out. AN INCREASE IN AL FRESCO DINING, OUTDOOR FURNITURE, AND MARKET-STYLE FOOD STALLS In response to managing social distancing effectively in restaurants and pubs, government ministers are also drawing up plans to relax outdoor seating licenses. This could potentially entail closing some roads to allow for extra tables and chairs to be utilised and lifting some July 2020
