Britain s 45,000 pubs expect to serve 3 million pints on Monday as lockdown restrictions ease again - but will still be unprofitable until the country is fully opened up.
The next step of the roadmap back to normal life happens on May 17, and will see bars and restaurants finally able to serve customers indoors.
But there will still be restrictions to service, which include social distancing of at least one metre, table service only and face masks anywhere other than when sitting.
It means the pints leaning against the bar are still out and will force drinking venues to operate at just 80 per cent capacity.
Pubs will struggle to break even until all Covid restrictions are lifted
The pub industry body has warned that many venues will be unable to reopen until all Covid restrictions are lifted (Getty Images)
Pubs across England are preparing to open their doors from Monday as indoor trading resumes, but the industry body has warned that ongoing social distancing restrictions will force 2,000 to remain closed.
The British Beer and Pub Association said today that 45,000 venues will reopen next week, serving around 3m pints, as punters flock back to their locals.
But the organisation warned that ongoing Covid restrictions, including 1 metre social distancing, compulsory masks and table service, mean many will still be unable to break even.
Every Brit needs to drink 124 pints to save the nation s pubs after lockdown
Finance experts say if every Brit drinks 124 pints or 122 glasses of wine, it will give the industry the £25.66billion cash boost it needs to get back to pre-pandemic income levels
Updated
Finance experts say Brits can help the nation s pubs recover (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The Daily Star s FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign up today!
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.
The Old Punch Bowl
People in England will be able to meet indoors in groups of up to six people or as two households.
The date is the next milestone in England’s roadmap out of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
And Mr Mackenzie said: “It’s great that from next Monday we’ll be able to welcome our customers back inside our pubs and get more of our team members back to work. Since we reopened outdoors in some of our pubs in April, frequent spells of cold and wet weather have made it particularly trying for our teams who are serving our customers outside.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes in Wales will be able to serve people indoors from next Monday as the country s coronavirus cases continue to drop.
The Welsh Government confirmed up to six people from six different households will be able to meet in indoor regulated settings, such as cafes and pubs, when they open from May 17.
First Minister Mark Drakeford had previously said it was likely businesses would be allowed to serve groups of up to six inside but that it would be up to whomever was elected on May 6 to confirm the relaxation.
Labour took control of the Senedd again, and Mr Drakeford has now confirmed the rule change will happen on Monday.