See the social distancing measures in place at Sunderland's 808 Bar & Kitchen ahead of reopening

For the first time in more than 100 days, 808 Bar & Kitchen will be able to welcome diners and drinkers this weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light for businesses including bars and restaurants to reopen.

Doors at 808 will open from 11.30am on Saturday, with more than 60 table bookings already taken for the first day back in business. Booking request messages to the bar and restaurant’s Facebook page flooded in soon after the Government announcement, but the venue’s social distancing measures have been planned for weeks in advance.

In a bid to keep diners, and staff, as safe as possible, the seating capacity has been reduced by around 35 percent with less people than usual allowed in booths.

Other measures introduced to help limit the spread of Covid-19 include:

::A well-marked one-way system

::Contact details of diners taken

::Maximum bookings of six people

::Table service with one server per section

::Door staff to supervise and limit entry

::Hand sanitisation stations

::Extra cleaning of bar and table areas

::Laminated menus cleaned between use

::A one-in one-out policy on the guestrooms

::Perspex screens between booths

Since opening two years ago, the bar has built up a following for its DJ sets and function hire. Under new measures, DJ sets and loud music aren’t permitted, as people talking loudly over the top of music increases droplets in the air. Instead, the bar will be playing a playlist of some of its favourite tunes.

Carlton Johnston, who owns the bar with business partners Preston Brown and Nathan Fryatt, says staff are looking forward to seeing their customers again and will be trying their best to provide some normality, while safely doing so.

“Although the Government announcement came last week, we had been planning for this for around four weeks,” he explained. “There’s a 43-page guidelines document and we’ve scoured it for hours to make sure we do what we can to keep people safe.

“Our staff have had training on the measures and we’ve done a full Covid-19 risk assessment. We’ve stressed how important it is, as essentially lives are at stake.”

In Sunderland city centre, there’s been a split between bars choosing to open on Saturday, including Hidden, Sam’s Bar and Sinatra’s, and others who’ve decided to delay opening such as ttonic, Chaplins, The Rabbit and The Dun Cow.

808, however, is more geared towards table service than most other sites and Carlton is hopeful people will respect safety measures.

“Since the announcement, bookings really took off on our Facebook page,” he explained. “I think everyone has been waiting for this day. They want some normality and to spend time with their friends, which is important for mental health. You have to respect that there’s some people who aren’t ready for that yet, but we feel like we’ve put the appropriate measures in place to make people feel safe.”

Those not respecting the new measures will be asked to leave the bar, Carlton explained.

“People have to be responsible and use common sense,” he said. “If people don’t, they will get a warning and if they don’t take that on board they’ll be asked to leave.

“We’ve invested so much in the safety measures that we wouldn’t want to ruin that by allowing people not to adhere to the guidelines. We’ll also be welcoming feedback too, so that people feel comfortable.”

As well as a new look inside, the bar and restaurant has introduced a new menu of tapas dishes, with an offer of four dishes and two drinks for £22.

It comes as the Echo is running its #SupportLocal campaign to encourage people to use local businesses and boost trade.

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