WILTSHIRE Council and Wiltshire Police have joined forces to remind residents to play their part and act responsibly when pubs re-open this weekend.

At the end of June, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that pubs, restaurants, and hotels could re-open from tomorrow.

Several other businesses will also be allowed to re-open, such as barbers, hairdressing salons and cinemas.

Whilst this is a positive step forward in revitalising the economy and showing that Wiltshire is open for business, it is important the public continue to take extra precautions to stop coronavirus from spreading and ensure they act responsibly at this time as anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

Cllr Simon Jacobs, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for public health and public protection, said: “We welcome the gradual reopening of more businesses in Wiltshire and we know many people have been looking forward to a trip to the pub or to visit a restaurant to enjoy the summer weekends with family and friends.

“As the licensing authority, we have an important role in ensuring pubs and restaurants are opening with the right conditions in place and adhering to social distancing guidelines.

“We all know visiting our local pub will be a different experience with new measures in place but it is vital people behave responsibly and respect others when they are out and about.

“I would remind people we all need to respect the measures in place and play our part in practising social distancing and good hand hygiene to reduce the risk to ourselves and others from coronavirus.”

Superintendent Gavin Williams, head of operations at Wiltshire Police, said: "From July 4, many pubs and restaurants will reopen with restrictions still in place.

“However, we must not get away from the fact that coronavirus is still here and remains a serious threat to public health.

"Whilst we understand and appreciate people will want to take advantage of this opportunity, it is vital that everyone still adheres to the Government guidance, including social distancing, hygiene measures and following instructions from staff.

"If you are visiting a bar or restaurant, our message is clear; plan your visit, drink responsibly, follow the guidance.

"We know that the vast majority of people will behave responsibly but some people will drink to excess and become vulnerable to harm or indeed cause harm to others.

“Anti-social or criminal behaviour will not be tolerated here in Wiltshire and Swindon, and we continue to work with the night-time economy and partners to ensure safety and cut crime."

To help with the reopening, the government will also relax the two-metre social distancing rule, replacing it with ‘one-metre plus’ in situations where keeping two metres apart is not possible.

This means people can maintain one metre apart, as long as other measures are put in place to limit the transmission of the virus.

These include wearing a face mask or covering, installing plastic screens, and providing extra handwashing facilities.

Major pubs chains opening:

JD Wetherspoons

Wetherspoon plans to re-open 750 of its pubs tomorrow.

They include the Albany Palace in Trowbridge; The Seven Stars in Bradford on Avon; The Bear in Melksham; The Bridge House in Chippenham; The Silk Mercer in Devizes; The Bath Arms and the Masons Arms in Warminster, and The Horse & Groom in Westbury.

The chain has invested £11 million into new measures to keep staff and customers safe.

As well as checking the temperatures of staff before they're allowed back to work, they will also be provided gloves, masks and protective eyewear.

Tables have been moved to allow for one-metre plus distancing and some have had screens installed.

The pubs will also offer a "slightly reduced menu", although Wetherspoons has not yet confirmed what it includes.

The Wetherspoons app also allows customers to order from their tables and pubs will have separate exits and entrances.

Wetherspoons will also employ two full-time staff per pub to regularly clean surfaces and touch points.

Greene King

Greene King is re-opening 1,294 of its pubs from Monday.

The chain owns The Black Horse in Trowbridge; The West End Inn in Melksham; The Rowden Arms in Chippenham; The Royal Oak at Marlborough and The Red Lion at Avebury.

The remaining third will open at a later date which has not yet been confirmed.

Customers wishing to book a table at their local will be able to do so via the Greene King app which is now up and running.

Staff have been trained up on health and safety and will have to do temperature checks at the beginning of each shift.

An order and pay app has also been launched to reduce contact for customers.

Marston's

Marston's will be opening 80-85 per cent of its pubs on Saturday.

The pub operator owns The Old Lane in Chippenham; The Water Meadow at Melksham; The Generous George in Hilperton and The Red Admiral in Trowbridge. It also owns the Rotisserie pubs and Pitcher and Pianos pubs.

The chain has made several changes to keep customers safe in the coronavirus pandemic.

These include enhanced cleaning measures, as well as thorough training for staff. There will also be social distancing at all open sites.

But chief executive Ralph Findlay has said that staff will not have to wear masks.

Wadworth

Here’s the full list of tenanted pubs that will be open on Saturday:

The Black Horse, The Castle, The Moonrakers and The Pelican all in Devizes; the Fox and Hounds at Nursteed; The Bridge at Horton; The Kings Arms at All Cannings; The Royal Oak at Pewsey; The Lamb at Marlborough; The New Inn at Coate; The Oddfellows at Manton; The Kingfisher in Chippenham; the Royal Oak in Corsham; the Wellesley Arms in Sutton Benger; the Bell on the Common at Broughton Gifford; the Old Ham Tree in Holt; the Crown in Westbury; the Farmhouse Inn in Southwick; The Lamb in Trowbridge; The Greyhound at Bromham; the Canal Tavern in Bradford on Avon, and The Cross Keys at Rowde.

A few more sites hope to open during the week after, including The White Bear and The Cavalier in Devizes.

A number of Wadworth’s other business partners are planning to opening within two weeks of Saturday.

Their landlords want to see how other pubs are trading and understand the implementation of the Covid-19 protocols. These are likely to include The Poplars at Wingfield.

In terms of managed houses, Wadworth is looking to open the following by July 22-23, although if they can re-open sooner they will.

These include The Barge in Seend; The Crown in Devizes and The Pheasant in Chippenham.

Then a week or two after this, the Black Swan in Devizes for accommodation; the Three Crowns in Devizes; the White Hart at Wroughton; The George and the Red Lion at Lacock and the Lansdown Arms at Derry Hill.

Mitchells And Butlers

Mitchells and Butlers own a huge range of pubs, bars and eateries.

These include: ALEX; All Bar One; Browns; Castle; Ember Inns; Inkeepers Lodge; Nicholson's; O'Neill's; Oak Tree; Orchid Pubs; Premium Country Pub; Sizzling Pubs; Vintage Inns and Stonehouse Pizza and Carvery.

All the brands will re-open from tomorrow and they are all taking bookings online.

Some locations may have reduced opening hours while others will be serving a limited menu.

The owners have warned that in the short-term, descriptions on menus may not always accurately reflect the contents of a dish.

If you fancy a meal and you have dietary requirements you need to speak to a team member before you order.

All the pubs and bars have updated their cleaning schedules and will be set up to allow social distancing.

Some of the brands - such as All Bar One - have apps that you can download to make a booking, view menus and use the order and pay service.

The Milk Churn at Melksham, owned by Dorset brewery Hall & Woodhouse, is scheduled to re-open from July 19.

In addition, many independently-owned pubs are expected to re-open on Saturday or within the next two weeks.

They include the Three Horseshoes, The Dandy Lion, the Barge, The Bear, the Boat House, The Bunch of Grapes and the Rising Sun, all in Bradford on Avon; The Cross Guns at Avoncliff; The Old Bear Inn at Staverton; The Long Arms at Steeple Ashton; The New Inn at Westwood; The Tollgate Inn in Holt; The Duke in Bratton; The Twelve Bells, the Rose & Crown, The Stallards Inn Bar & Club, the Anchor & Hope, the Dursley Arms, and the King’s Arms all in Trowbridge; The Somerset Arms in Semington, and The Three Daggers at Edington.

Some pubs such as the King's Arms Hotel in Melksham and the Castle Inn at Bradford on Avon, are not expected to re-open immediately, with landlords waiting to see how the new restrictions will work in practice.

If we have missed off your village local from these lists, please contact us via Facebook to let us know if it has re-opened - and don’t forget to send in your photos.