Preparations are underway at a couple of hospitality premises to reopen indoors on and from Monday, when in Wales this becomes permissible. So, tables are now rearranged in a distanced-fashion in the freshly redecorated and refloored W & G Jones café. There appears a shouty but positive message to welcome us back.
Whetherspoon's has put out its parasols in its beer garden and stuck up signs for what will be a one way system within the building itself. Not only that, there are now screens between inside tables, clearly visible through the window off the Square. This may create a more private atmosphere, too. Oddly, the entrance is via the back door off the beer garden, not on the Square. This seems counter intuitive. The window signage has gone.
As for the other pubs, the Boar's and Park Place are already open for outside drinking but there is no sign of any activity or explanation of opening at the others.
The Star looks miserable and in need of a paint up. The Wine Vaults has undergone some work within but there's no immediate sign of any activity, though they're advertising beer available in the rear garden. The Feathers and Corporation Arms look as inviting as Scarborough in a bleak sea mist. In any case, they're all a little small and cramped within.
The A-board outside The Castle Hotel telling us to keep out has gone and that is a good sign. In fact, the Castle Hotel reopens tomorrow, with its new courtyard café live from August 7th.
Neither On the Hill nor sister Small Plates will reopen just now. Their premises are not suitable. The waft of garlic continues to perfume the air on Upper Clwyd Street, as the chilled ready meal takeaway service continues on Thursdays to Saturdays and this, apparently, is actually now expanded.
What else do we know? The UK government's "East Out to Help Out" website shows that there are 10 establishments taking part within five miles of St Peter's Square. This is where the UK government is paying half up to a maximum of £10 per person towards your food and non-alcoholic beverage on Mondays to Wednesdays inclusive, during August. So, that's nine within the lookup database plus a tenth, a chain (Wetherspoon's). In order of distance from the Square, the 10 are Wetherspoon's; Costa's; The Castle Hotel; Seven Oaks; Woodland's Hall; The Golden Lion (Llangynhafal); The Nant y Felin (Llanrhaeadr); The Lodge (Llanrhaeadr); The Druid's (Llanferres): and the Glan Llyn (Clawddnewydd). If Costa can take part, what about W & G Jones, for example? will W & G Jones lose out and also will Chatwin's, if open?
Wetherspoon's boasts that it will be offering a selection of meals (with a drink) "at a lower price than the equivalent food from Tesco" as part of the scheme.
The Star looks miserable and in need of a paint up. The Wine Vaults has undergone some work within but there's no immediate sign of any activity, though they're advertising beer available in the rear garden. The Feathers and Corporation Arms look as inviting as Scarborough in a bleak sea mist. In any case, they're all a little small and cramped within.
The A-board outside The Castle Hotel telling us to keep out has gone and that is a good sign. In fact, the Castle Hotel reopens tomorrow, with its new courtyard café live from August 7th.
We doubt that Costa will actually open in Augsut. When it does, in September, the "eat out to help out" scheme'll've finished
What else do we know? The UK government's "East Out to Help Out" website shows that there are 10 establishments taking part within five miles of St Peter's Square. This is where the UK government is paying half up to a maximum of £10 per person towards your food and non-alcoholic beverage on Mondays to Wednesdays inclusive, during August. So, that's nine within the lookup database plus a tenth, a chain (Wetherspoon's). In order of distance from the Square, the 10 are Wetherspoon's; Costa's; The Castle Hotel; Seven Oaks; Woodland's Hall; The Golden Lion (Llangynhafal); The Nant y Felin (Llanrhaeadr); The Lodge (Llanrhaeadr); The Druid's (Llanferres): and the Glan Llyn (Clawddnewydd). If Costa can take part, what about W & G Jones, for example? will W & G Jones lose out and also will Chatwin's, if open?
Wetherspoon's boasts that it will be offering a selection of meals (with a drink) "at a lower price than the equivalent food from Tesco" as part of the scheme.