ALL of St Helens' JD Wetherspoon pubs will reopen on July 4, the chain has confirmed.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed pubs can reopen from that date as phase three of the easing of the coronavirus lockdown begins.

The social distancing two-metre rule will also be relaxed to 'one-metre plus'.

Wetherspoons said 750 pubs in England will reopen on July 4.

This includes the company's three pubs in the borough, The Glass House on Market Street and The Running Horses on Water Street, both in St Helens town centre, and The Nine Arches on Legh Street, Newton-le-Willows.

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “ We are extremely pleased that pubs are reopening on July 4 after a long hiatus.

“We are going to discuss the precise government proposals with our pub managers and staff before we comment further on the details.”

St Helens Star:

The chain last month disclosed measures it is looking at taking to ensure safety of staff and customers.

Social distancing measures will result in the employment of two full time staff per pub, slightly more for bigger pubs, who will regularly clean surfaces and touch points throughout the pubs.

It has undertaken extensive employee consultation and has also consulted with many of its suppliers and contractors, as well as referring to UK Hospitality guidelines.

All of its pubs will have screens at the till point.

There will also be screens to create seating areas where it is not possible to separate the tables to the social distancing requirement.

Wetherspoon will provide gloves, masks and protective eyewear.

Employees can elect whether to wear them or not, subject to government guidelines.

READ MORE > Pub boss welcomes social distancing rule but still fears heavy losses

There will be an average ten hand sanitiser dispensers around each pub, including at the entrance for customers and staff to use.

Every employee will need to complete and sign a daily health assessment questionnaire to confirm that they are fit to work. This will include having their temperature taken using a digital thermometer.

Dedicated staff will monitor the pubs at all times in order to maintain social distancing standards and there will be a member of staff on the door at peak times.

The pubs will use one entrance with a separate exit door where possible.

Customer entry and exit will be marked out by floor stickers and/or barriers and there will be clear printed information providing guidance to customers as they enter the pubs.

St Helens Star:

Nine Arches

Each pub will have a member of staff working full time (two staff per pub to cover all opening hours) to sanitise all the contact points during opening hours.

These will include door handles, allergen information screens, card payment machines and hand rails.

Customers will be asked to use the Wetherspoon order and pay app, wherever possible, or pay at the bar using a credit/debit card and contactless, although cash will be accepted.

Staff will hand over all drinks holding the base of the glass and when ordered by the app they will be delivered to the table on a tray and placed on the table using the base of the glass.

Food will be delivered to the table by a member of floor staff.

The pubs will also offer a slightly reduced menu and will provide sachets (ketchup, mayonnaise, salt pepper etc), rather than their usual condiment bottles.

They will be open their usual opening hours.

All staff will receive a full briefing and training on the new way of running the pubs.