Talk to the CellarCraft Guru
Being Covid-19 ready to open
From 4th July, pubs, cafes, restaurants and other venues can re-open, but you need to make sure you have made all the preparations to comply with Government guidelines to keep both your customers and your staff safe.
Scroll down the page to see our recommendations for each sector of your operations and what products you may need.
You should also provide additional hand-washing stations if possible using hand sanitiser.
Dispense line and glass-washing chemicals
Dispense lines
We understand that many outlets used Guardian to prevent tainting during your closure. To get your lines ready, simply conduct a line clean in the normal way, water flush, 3×10 minute pull through of line cleaner, water flush and back to beer.
Suggestion don’t put all your lines back in use. With the pressure of social distancing and the uncertainty of people’s behaviour, it may be advisable to put a limited amount of lines online not offer too much choice. Guardian can be used still in lines that aren’t being used without causing any issues with freezing or tainting.
Sanitising in your cellar. Cellar hygiene spray can be used on couplers, ring mains, door handles and anything else being touched by staff. This is BSEN tested and a simple spray and leave.
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Glass-washing
We would recommend that you ensure your glass washer is in excellent working order. It is important that it is clean and operating at its best to ensure that maximum cleaning is achieved. If you need someone to look at your glass washer Crystaltech are specialists in this area and do not tie you into any contractual commitments. They cover the full UK and can be reached by phone on 0370 350 2424.
Ceda released guidance in January advising that a chlorine-based detergent should be used due to its high sanitisation properties, this also removes the process of Renovating glasses. This combination will ensure your glasses are sanitising and clean, as well as offering perfect presentation of those long-awaited pub served drinks.
For a discount on Complete Glasswash System with Renovate, follow the link and when you get to the coupon code enter code ‘Covid’ for a 20% discount.
Live Operating
Hand sanitisation points
It will be expected that hand sanitiser is offered to your staff and customers when you re-open. We would recommend that these are places at entry and exit points, bar ends if you are allowing bar service and close to toilet doors.
Proton are able to help with a dispenser, a pelican pump and a 72% alcohol based gel. There are a number of gels out there that are only 60% please note that for Covid-19 70% alcohol should be used as a minimum.
Due to the increased amount of alcohol although Proton’s Hand Sanitiser is a gel it may not be as thick as a 60% consistency gel.
Ordering
If allowing customers to the bar, add screens to the bar to protect your staff and customers. Mark on the floor where you expect customers to stand both when queuing and when they are being served.
This can be difficult to achieve, taking orders in the form off an app, in a membership Facebook page or using social media messenger apps, like WhatsApp and Messenger to take orders and either then offering table service or that the customers only approach the bar when advised to collect from the bar.
Cashless transactions should be encouraged on all occasions and staff should be offered facemasks and gloves.
Toilets
These seem to be an area of concern from staffing, social distancing controls and sanitising of them. Some suggestions from CellarCraft are:
- One way systems if possible, to help with social distancing depending on location of your toilets a one way system may be needed and may be possible.
- If operating your own toilets, ensuring that hand sanitiser and wipes are available to clean all areas. The emphasis for this is likely to fall mainly with the customer with visible cleaning also being carried out by staff.
- If the control of social distancing is difficult within your outlet consider Portoloos, these can be placed externally, allowing for easy marking of social distancing queuing and they normally over great self sanitisation. This may be cheaper than the staffing needed to control your toilet areas.
- To clean and ensure sanitisation we recommend, sanitising spray and multi surface cleaners along with surface wipes.
- Different colour cloths for different areas should be used and should be changed regularly.
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Bar area
Tables should be placed to easily allow for social distancing, screens may help but not always possible and could carry operating difficulties in regard to fire safety etc. You should consult with your local council who will offer help and guidance on this. They will largely advise that you need to be ‘covid secure’ and all controls will be determined by rush assessments, so need to be reasonably practical to minimise risk.
All surfaces should be regularly cleaned and visible to customers. We recommend a sanitising spray BSEN tested and that different colour cloths are used for different areas. Staff should wear gloves that are then disposed of after use.
Staff areas
Remember social distancing is needed to for your staff to, this will be new and not normal operating so is likely to feel very alien, clear and visible guidelines should be made. This should be found by marking on the floor, posters reminding and again hand sanitisation points.
Clear instructions of dos and don’t should be explained to all staff, nominated jobs and not multi-tasking will help with sanitisation and social distancing and allowing for Covid control.
More advise can be obtained from your local council and https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
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