WE are lucky have a thriving independent hospitality sector across the St Helens borough and the future of our local pubs, bars and restaurants relies on us all doing what we can to support them and our local economy when they reopen from this weekend. 

It’s been great to see that so many businesses including lots of pubs and restaurants have found new ways of operating through lockdown, and at the Council we have done our best to support them and to promote their offers through the St Helens Is Open campaign – find out more at www.sthelens.gov.uk/sthelensisopen

The council and our partners have been preparing for the reopening of pubs and clubs for some time.

St Helens Star:

David Baines, the leader of St Helens Council

Officers from licensing, environmental health, safer communities, town centre management and public health are among those working directly with pubs, bars and restaurants on their plans to reopen. 

Also, council officers have been working with partners from Merseyside Police to visit venues, offering advice on preparation and safety measures.

We’ll be working closely with the police to monitor and deal with any increase in antisocial behaviour, which as always, should be reported to the police so they can act.

Like most things, the experience of eating or drinking in a restaurant or pub will be a little different for the time being, with various measures in place such as limited capacity in venues and having to sit down and in small groups indoors, as venues try to keep social distancing measures in place.

I’m sure it will be enjoyable nonetheless, and a relief for many to get back to at least a little normality.

Council licensing teams will also be working to support the wider community, providing help and advice for residents who have concerns around safety due to the changing ways that venues can operate.

There is lots of support both for venues and residents online at www.sthelens.gov.uk.

Good luck to all those businesses reopening this weekend!