Fylde coast landlords hoping for a brighter year as PM announces plans to reopen pubs in April

Boris Johnson announced the gradual reopening of various sectors in Britain today as the country emerges from what is hoped to be its final coronavirus lockdown.

Local pub landlords have welcomed the news that their businesses could reopen for outdoor service by April 12 if infection rates remain stable.

It is hoped that they will be able to reopen fully by May 17.

Robert Wynne, owner of the Brew Room on Church Street and the West Coast Rock Cafe, said: "It's as much as we could hope for really. I know the dates are not absolutely definite but if all pubs and restaurants are able to reopen by May 17, and then all restrictions lifted on June 21, it would be very exciting and could herald a good year for Blackpool.

"We have had some parts of our business closed down for a year and so this idea that even nightclubs will be able to reopen soon is very exciting.

"We are really looking forward to having customers back in the West Coast Rock Cafe, and as for the Brew Room, we're looking forward to opening with a quiz night because we haven't been able to have one in ages. It has been a pretty hard year for us all."

Steve Norris, owner of The Taps in Lytham, said: “I really don’t think we can afford to have another lockdown and that’s not just the hospitality sector, but business in general in Britain. I think that’s very evident.

“Lift lockdown sensibly, make sure that when we do reopen we are ready to hit the ground running. We don’t want to be opening again under restrictions. We don’t want to go back to those days. We have been there, it’s not a nice place and it’s not how pubs should be.

“No one can guess when it’s going to be safe for everyone to go back to pubs, but we want it to be normal. Let’s be a pub again, but let’s be safe, and if that takes an extra couple of months, so be it.”