How Doncaster's pubs and restaurants are getting ready to welcome customers back this weekend

It’s been three months dependent on take away orders.
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But Doncaster’s town centre is taking a step closer to normality as its pubs and restaurants finally get to re-open their doors.

It has been gradual steps as the town centre has been re-opening, with non essential shops having re-opened in the middle of June.

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But now, sit down food and drink venues are finally back open from Saturday – bringing back another sign of life to the economy.

Hannah and Carol Shekle, of Dreambakes cafe on Priory Walk, with protective equipment. They are among cafes restaurants and bars that are re-opening. Picture: Hannah ShekleHannah and Carol Shekle, of Dreambakes cafe on Priory Walk, with protective equipment. They are among cafes restaurants and bars that are re-opening. Picture: Hannah Shekle
Hannah and Carol Shekle, of Dreambakes cafe on Priory Walk, with protective equipment. They are among cafes restaurants and bars that are re-opening. Picture: Hannah Shekle

Some venues have said they will not be re-opening this weekend – but others are getting ready to go.

On the recently revamped streets of Hall Gate, now boasting widened pavements after changes to traffic arrangements, some pubs and restaurants have been keeping their heads above water with deliveries.

Now they have put into place big changes to make sure they can open their doors safely.

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Raheel Mahmood, manager of the Poppadoms and Cream Indian restaurant, on Hall Gate, said the business had spent a lot of time and money on getting ready to re-open.

James Kirkham at the Coach and HorsesJames Kirkham at the Coach and Horses
James Kirkham at the Coach and Horses

Over the last few months, his venue has been keeping going through take away and delivery sales.

It has meant that they have been able to keep on all the staff who wanted to work, rather than furloughing staff.

But he admits he is fearful in case there is another lockdown in the future, as has been seen in Leicester.

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The restaurant is a big venue. Usually, it would seat 70 upstairs, and 100 downstairs. But he is looking at that being halved with re-opening, to make sure things are safe.

The Hallcross, on Hallgate, Doncaster. Picture: GoogleThe Hallcross, on Hallgate, Doncaster. Picture: Google
The Hallcross, on Hallgate, Doncaster. Picture: Google

Everyone coming to dine will have to give their names and addresses and contact details, before they take their seat at their table. They will be offered a facemask at the door.

He said: “We’ve got all the measures in place with hand santiser, masks for those who want them, and we’ve had the whole place refurbished and redecorated. We’ve put in booths, so everyone who comes in will see it’s changed.

“We want to make sure its safe, and we have done everything within our powers to do that. Staff will be wearing masks, and the only contact with the customers will be when they take the order and when they pay the bill.

Poppadoms and Cream, Hallgate, Doncaster. Picture: GooglePoppadoms and Cream, Hallgate, Doncaster. Picture: Google
Poppadoms and Cream, Hallgate, Doncaster. Picture: Google
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“We’ve kept all the staff on. Good chefs are hard to get, and we wanted to keep them. They have been cooking the takeaways. The waiting staff have been taking orders for takeaways and doing the deliveries.

“I am scared, because we don’t know what is going to happen. I’ve spent a lot changing and refurbishing, and I’m worried in case anything goes wrong. We have done everything we can do, but there are things that are beyond our control, like what has happened in Leicester.”

Next door, is the Hallcross pub.

Like Poppadoms and Cream, the Hallcross has been kept ticking along with sales of takeaway beer in takeaway containers.

A well known real ale pub, it has been selling its own Old Horizontal beer.

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But manager Julian Clark has been looking forward to re-opening properly, and seeing faces that he admits he has missed.

The Free Press is campaigning to support local businesses as they re-openThe Free Press is campaigning to support local businesses as they re-open
The Free Press is campaigning to support local businesses as they re-open

“We have a reduced capacity,” he admitted. “You can only get so many people in with 1m plus distancing. There is plenty of hand sanitiser and we’re dong all the recommendations to keep people safe. There are signs and tape on the floor to keep distancing.

“We have an outside area, and that helps us here, and we will encourage people to use it.”

Traditionally, the Hallcross has been well known for its music and bands. But that cannot happen during the present restrictions.

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That means the room that would usually host the gigs has become overspill space for tables, where drinkers will be getting table service to avoid the need for queueing at the bar.

The takeaway sales will continue, and Julian says there are still people who are worried about coming out, but still want beer.

“People who are worried about coming on a Saturday may come on a Sunday,” he said.

Before re-opening, It was not certain how many staff will need to come back off furlough in the long term. It is not clear how table service will affect the numbers needed as the Hallcross has not done table before.

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“We need to be doing more cleaning too,” he said. “The first days were always going to be about learning. We’re doing all we can to make a safe environment. Out staff will be encouraged to wear visors.

Pubs are a proactive sector. When there is a problem, we solve it,

“My view on the situation is what Churchill once said – ‘this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning’.”

Further into town, on Scot Lane, Coach and Horses landlord James Kirkham has the hand santiser ready. He said they will running a policy of one table out, one table in. Any queueing would be outdoors. Before the tables are full, it is first come first served. Those who sit down receive table service, with three staff working – one on the door, one serving tables, and one at the bar.

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He said: “We’e following all the guidelines. We’ll review how we work in a week and see what could be done better.”

Just up the road in their premises on Priory Walks, mother and daughter Carol and Hannah Shekle are also also among those re-opening.

With their small deli and cafe, Dreambakes, unable to open, they have kept going on cake orders.

The cafe has now been tranformed. There are now screens in place to separate the reduced number of tables. There are now fewer items on display, and those that are are all under cover.

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Masks and gloves and hand sanitiser are order of the day, and there are new outdoor tables.

Hannah said: “We’re not losing as many seats as we had expected. All the tables will be table service, and people will pay at the table now, too, rather than at the counter, which we did in the past. People should only be up and about if they’re using the toilets.

“We’ve kept on selling celebration cakes throughout, I think because they have not been able to have parties, people have been going for more special bakes.

“I think Saturday represents a collective breath out, a bit more easing of restrictions as people start to make plans.”

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