PUBS across the city are waiting with anticipation to hear when they will be able to re-open as part of a huge announcement expected today by the Prime Minister.

Boris Johnson is set to reveal whether pubs can re-open for the first time in months as part of plans to ease lockdown restrictions and reduce the two-metre distancing rule to one metre.

If pubs are allowed to re-open, the change to the rules, which follow from a government review, are not expected to come into effect until July 4.

City pub owners say they are excited to hear Mr Johnson’s announcement, with one saying it felt like Christmas Eve after a hard few months following the forced closure of pubs in March to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Sue Law, one of the owners of the Holt Fleet pub near Worcester, said she was just waiting for the Prime Minister to 'hit the button' having spent weeks preparing for re-opening.

The family-run pub, on the banks of the River Severn at Holt Fleet, has ordered four special‘pods’ for its beer garden – and with more than 100 bookings made, spaces have already sold out a week-and-a-half before pubs are expected to re-open on July 4.

She said: “We’ve only got four at the moment because that is all we could get but we are planning to get more. If people are still shielding it is ideal that they can dine out safely outside. They are still undercover but outside. People are already booking them for special occasions, so they have proved very popular.

“I’m hoping he (Mr Johnson) says yes but there is no guarantee yet. There are two things really: the first is the date we can hopefully re-open but there is also the one-metre rule which will make a massive difference to us because then obviously we can organise our dining area.

“I feel like it’s Christmas Eve just waiting to hear what is going to happen. It has been a long time. We’re family-run and we live here so it has been a long three months. Everybody has been booking inside as well as outside and they have all said they just cannot wait.”

Mrs Law said the pub has also ordered a converted horse trailer for an outdoor bar and will also provide hand sanitising stations and a phone app for ordering food as part of its preparations to re-open, as well as kitting out staff with aprons, visors and other personal protection equipment (PPE).

Whilst the potential of the two-metre rule being reduced was welcomed by one pub, things appear to be different for a city hotel preparing to reopen.

Caz Stooke, front of house manager at Diglis House Hotel, which has a large beer garden on the banks of the River Severn, said the hotel was still working to get back into shape after being hit badly by huge floods earlier this year, and even if the social distancing rule of two metres was dropped to just one metre, the hotel would probably still stick to staying two metres apart.

She said: “We won’t be opening until we have had proper guidelines from the government. We are still recovering from the floods so we are going to be a little delayed and not ready for July 4."

Builders are still at the hotel carrying out repairs, and Mrs Stooke said: “Until we’re no longer a building sight, it won't be safe to open. We’ll have to wait and see what Boris has to say.

“It’s going to be very difficult for everyone. If he reduces the two-metre rule, will that help or will that hinder? A lot of places it will help but does it put us all at more risk? I would think that we would maintain the two-metre distancing at the hotel. We’ll see what happens.”

Mrs Stooke said the hotel would still need to complete several risk assessments which would take at least one if not two weeks to carry out and prepare for opening properly and make sure everybody – staff and customers – would be safe.

Worcester City Council said it has so far paid out £1.5 million in coronavirus support grants for pubs, restaurants and cafes in the city but could not say specifically how much had been handed over to pubs.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) said: “Licensed premises have always had a duty to promote public safety. Following today’s announcement WRS officers will continue to enforce the regulations and help businesses meet any amended guidance.

“The main aim will be to ensure that businesses reopen and trade safely in line with new regulations – and to take action if a business chooses to trade in an unsafe manner.”