Chesterfield pub and bar bosses ‘delighted’ to welcome ‘respectful’ drinkers again

Many hospitality businesses across the area have opened their doors again after lockdown restrictions were eased on Saturday.

MORE: Pictures as Chesterfield's pubs reopen

Managers have introduced a number of health and safety measures to help keep people safe – including giving staff PPE, bringing in one-way systems, giving reminders about social distancing and asking customers to use hand sanitiser.

The Chesterfield Arms on Newbold Road reopened on Monday – and landlady Emma Clarke said it ‘couldn’t have gone better’.

“It was absolutely fantastic to welcome people back inside the pub after all this time,” she said.

“We got lots of nice comments from the customers.

“We’ve switched to table service and I think a lot of people are enjoying being waited on.”

When our photographer visited the Pig and Pump on St Mary’s Gate on Saturday, drinkers were enjoying a pint of their favourite tipple – and families were relishing a meal out after months of cooking at home.

Staff at the pub said: “A big thank you to all our wonderful customers we welcomed back safely at the weekend.”

A spokesperson for Chandlers Bar on St Mary’s Gate added: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came down and supported us when we reopened on Saturday.

“We were blown away by how polite, patient and respectful everyone was.”

The vast majority of people have been acting responsibly since the town’s pubs and bars reopened – but there was some violence reported over the weekend.

Police were called to the Portland Hotel in West Bars at around 10.50pm on Saturday to reports of a group of people ‘fighting’.

This footage of the brawl later surfaced on social media and residents slammed the ‘yobbish’ behaviour.

A spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary confirmed that ‘investigations were ongoing’ to try and identify those involved.

Eddie Gershon, a spokesperson for the Portland Hotel, said the Wetherspoons’ pub ‘utterly condemned’ any acts of violence and would work to assist police.

Anyone who can help officers with their enquiries should call 101, quoting reference number 20*343505.

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