LUXURY outdoor terraces and dozens of tables on car parks have been set up as revellers prepare to return to pubs for their first pint in months.
All non-essential shops will be able to reopen to the public from Monday while pubs and restaurants will be able to serve food and drink to customers outdoors.
At the Roslin Beach Hotel, in Thorpe Bay, it is all hands on deck in preparation with a new outdoor terrace ready, while the Shoebury Hotel has a new terrace and space for 70 punters on its car park.
But the move has left the pub industry divided with both Southend’s Last Post and the Dickens Pub in Southend forced to stay closed due to a lack of space.