Apps for ordering drinks and police patrols: how pubs could work after lockdown

Boris Johnson is expected to make an announcement next week on pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels - with their reopening in England an ambition from July 4 to start reviving the ailing economy.

With the coronavirus alert level having been reduced on Friday, the Prime Minister believes he has some space to relax measures in a boost for the sector.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told BBC Radio 4 that the review the PM ordered into the two-metre social distancing rule for England would be concluded "within the coming days", while Whitehall officials confirmed the outcome is expected next week.

The rule seeks to slow the spread of Covid-19 but would be a heavy restraint on the hospitality sector when it reopens, with many bosses favouring the distance being reduced.

Guidance drawn up by the sector and ministers is understood to encourage pubgoers to order drinks using apps instead of going to the bar, while current legislation was said to include the powers for patrols.

The UK Hospitality trade body said draft Government guidance allowed a "degree of flexibility" over menus being discarded after every use and for cutlery only to be brought out with food.

Chief executive Kate Nicholls told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the plan was for individual businesses to draw up their plans to keep their team and guests safe.

"As the guidelines cover from a burger van in a park right the way through to the Fat Duck in Bray you need to have something that takes account everything in between rather than a one-size-fits-all," she added.

It was stressed that decisions on further easings were yet to be made, but the PM said the lowering of the alert level from four to three allows ministers to "start making some progress" on social-distancing measures.

And he promised new guidance for the hospitality sector and businesses "very shortly".