Pubs in west Cumbria have spoken out about trading under new standards post-coronavirus.

Pubs and restaurants will be able to reopen along with much of the hospitality industry from Saturday, but under revised guidelines on trading.

Workington pub The Junction is among those that will NOT reopen immediately as it does not feel able to fulfill the current requirements.

Owner Lloyd Burnie said: “We’re a venue that wouldn’t be able to do table service – we aren’t a venue for sitting down.”

Venues and food retailers are also being asked to assist the NHS Covid-19 Track and Trace Service by keeping a record of who attends but that gives Mr Burnie misgivings too.

“I’m not comfortable with taking people’s details,” he said, warning that if businesses lose the details it could be a problem under the Data Protection Act.

“I don’t know how they’re going to keep those details safe,” he said.

He would like to see more done in support of pubs and restaurants.

“There’s all sorts of measures they can bring in that could help but they don’t seem to want to get the nightlife opened up again.”

Mr Burnie pointed to how coronavirus checks are being carried out in other countries. “When you look at other places in Europe they are doing temperature checks which is the first sign that you have any kind of virus.”

However, the ruling is good news for some. The Royal Oak in Whitehaven looks set to reopen at the earliest opportunity as co-owners Johnpaul Atkinson and Alan Simm took over the pub just one month before the coronavirus lockdown came into effect.

Johnpaul said: “We’re going through all the risk assessments to make sure we’re up to scratch.”

He is on board with the new measures being imposed by the Government: “Everything seems reasonable.”

And he is looking forward to getting the pub back up and running.

He said: “If we’re getting the demand I don’t see why we can’t be the supply.”

The reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers is the next stage of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Pubs will be asked to use table service “wherever possible” rather than serving at the bar. Contactless orders are still preferred, with venues required to provide clear signage on social distancing and proper hygiene as customers arrive on the premises.

The Government is also encouraging the use of radios and other electronic communication to avoid unnecessary trips.