Pubs in England could reopen for takeaway pints in April and 'return to normal by July'

17 February 2021, 11:08 | Updated: 17 February 2021, 14:39

By Polly Foreman

Boris Johnson is set to deliver his roadmap out of lockdown next Monday (22 February).

Pubs in England may be allowed to reopen in February for takeaway pints, with full service reportedly allowed from July.

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Boris Johnson is set to deliver his roadmap out of lockdown on Monday 22 February, where he will likely discuss issues including the reopening of schools, non-essential shops, restaurants and pubs.

The Prime Minister has already said that his priority is schools, which he hopes to reopen in 8 March, and non-essential shops will reportedly follow in the weeks after.

According to The Sun, pubs will then be allowed to open their doors in April - but will be limited to serving takeaway drinks.

A source said: "We will hopefully be sipping pints in the spring sunshine sooner rather than later."

A report by the Daily Mail suggests that hospitality will reopen in May with limited indoor mixing. According to the publication, up to two households will be able to sit together inside, while the 'rule of six' will apply for those seated outdoors.

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In June, is is thought that that 'rule of six' will be applied to indoors as well.

The report ads that the hospitality industry could return to normal by July, which social distancing measures in force.

Earlier today, Boris Johnson confirmed that lockdown easing would be done in stages, which he would discuss on Monday.

Speaking during a visit to Wales, he said: "We'll be setting out what we can on Monday 22 about the way ahead, and it'll be based firmly on a cautious and prudent approach to coming out of lockdown in such a way as to be irreversible.

"We want to be going one way from now on based on the incredible vaccination rollout.

"I certainly think that we need to go in stages, we need to go cautiously.

"You have to remember from last year that we opened up hospitality fully, that was one of the last things that that we did because there is obviously an extra risk of transmission from hospitality“I know there's there's a lot of understandable speculation, people are coming up with theories about what we're going to do and what we're going to say and about rates of infection and so on."I would just advise everybody just wait, you know, we'll try and say as much as we can."

The gradual approach to lockdown easing would depend on cases of coronavirus staying low, and will be subject to change.

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