No hospitality business is about selling food and drink what we are really about is experience and community.

On the 4th of July, Government guidelines on opening up for the industry make it the responsibility of the operator to ensure that guests and staff are protected from Covid-19.

2-metre rules, face-coverings & protective screens all require operators to ‘police’ their spaces in ways that inevitably can only increase anxiety and fear. The days of relaxation in your local boozer are, for now at least, gone.

What do our customers really value? What is the purpose of the visit to the pub or restaurant?

Whatever it is it is certainly not to satisfy a need for hunger or thirst. It is to be part of something, to be in a space that feels comfortable, to be part of a community, and to be free to relax, to be yourself, and connect with others. To be part of the hustle and bustle, to be where things happen and fond memories are made. It is about creating stories to be shared…

2m spots on the floor and screens between customers and staff are not how people will ever ‘get used’ to conducting meaningful relationships. Whilst the novelty might be interesting for a while sticking to your ‘bubble’ and trusting strangers to keep you safe is going to be a challenging task for our customers and it is going to be our responsibility as operators to enforce.

The opportunity to open on 4th July may not be a blessing for the operator or customers.

My hometown of Leicester has just gone back into lockdown, second spike or just delayed first, either way, it looks like this on/off scenario is likely to become the ‘new normal’ for the foreseeable future and each time any business gears up for opening to be followed by sudden closing it is going to be unpredictable and expensive.

Eventually, the hospitality industry will come out of this, with casualties sure, but our customers will always need us. We are essential spaces and providers of opportunity for freedom and community - but right now, whilst fear and anxiety and real potential danger are still so prevalent maybe it is not the right time?

For some in the business, now will be the right time, but for those businesses the decision to open will be about solidarity, providing hope, developing a brand, demonstrating confidence, or maybe just boredom or desperation.

But, just because we are allowed to do something doesn’t mean we should.

The businesses that do well opening on the 4th of July will have a really good understanding of why they are opening and what they are providing for their customers, perhaps a focus for a local community, or just hope that we will all be able to see each other again.

But it will be a hard decision…

Open or stay closed?