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Customers 'Regaining Confidence And Coming Back'

The Operations Manager of the Liberation Group says people are starting to regain their confidence and return to their pubs, bars, and eateries across the island.

Liberation sites started to gradually reopen from mid-June after closing three months earlier.

The likes of Le Hocq Inn and Trinity Arms reopened in mid-June after being closed for around three months.

It started with two-metre distancing which has since reduced to one.

Safety measures were also introduced for customers to get used to - which included not being able to get served at the bar and giving over their details for contact tracing purposes.

Steve Elson says the return has gone as well as could it have.

"Our staff have been excellent, they've brought everything on themselves and our customers are gaining confidence and slowly coming back.

"I think the risk assessment we had in place during closure and before and after lockdown and the measures we've put in - everyone has adhered to them and it's all come good in the end!"

The Group brought in a host of safety measures when reopening, which included:

  • Easily-accessible hand sanitiser
  • Cashless payments
  • Single-use recyclable menus
  • Cutlery in envelopes and daily cleaning of all unused cutlery
  • Condiments served in disposable containers for single-use
  • Reduced furniture and increased spacing between tables
  • Constant capacity monitoring to prevent overcrowding
  • Pre-order
  • 20-minute cleaning check ensuring all public and kitchen surfaces are regularly cleaned
  • Strict social distancing for all team members in kitchens and service areas.

Mr. Elson says the test, track, and trace system at the borders was the best thing that the government could've done to help organisations like his to start the road to recovery.

The Operations Manager has also described communication with the government as being 'massively improved', which he says has given much-needed confidence and clarity to Jersey businesses.

"Some of our sites have received tourists coming over so they are slowly starting to come in and the confidence is there as well.

"It's just a breath of fresh air for this year, which is really good to see."

A campaign has now started to increase checks and enforcement on pubs, restaurants and bars across Jersey to make sure they are abiding by safety guidelines and getting contact details for contact tracing purposes.

There are more details on that campaign here.

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