A PUB boss who has made his pub ‘Covid-Secure’, says we need to work together to beat coronavirus.

John O’Leary, general manager of McCafferty’s at the White Hart, has been 'keeping a close eye' on guidance from the Government – and putting the hours in to follow it.

Inspecting the premises earlier this month, Cherwell District Council’s licensing team were impressed by what they saw.

Now, the council is calling on people visiting pubs to support publicans in the fight against coronavirus.

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The council says keeping a safe distance and washing your hands regularly is important.

Mr O’Leary said: “We have used the time during lockdown to make the changes set out by the Government and working alongside our colleagues in the licensing department at Cherwell District Council.

“We have been keeping a close eye on the daily briefings to ensure we comply with the rules and distribute safety information to our staff and, most importantly, our customers.

“We advise all of our customers on arrival of our house rules and what they need to abide by.”

Oxford Mail:

Punters who visit McCaffert’y’s won’t just be warmly greeted, but they will now have their body temperature checked and contact details taken down so that the pub can support the Government’s Test and Trace scheme.

Hand sanitising stations are dotted throughout the pub, and one-way systems are in operation around the bar and toilets.

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Mr O’Leary added: “We have purchased personal protective equipment for our staff to ensure we are kept safe at all times. We recognise during this pandemic that things will be difficult, however we need to work together to beat coronavirus.

Furniture has been rearranged to allow social distancing, with outdoor seating and laminated signage around the pub too.

Councillor Andrew McHugh, Cherwell’s lead member for health and wellbeing, said: “Social distancing and hygiene measures are now fundamental to the livelihoods of people working in pubs and other hospitality venues. Publicans like Mr O’Leary have put an incredible amount of work into getting ready to welcome customers again.

“I would ask anyone who is in doubt about whether they want to respect these measures to imagine that it was their daughter, son, or neighbour behind that bar, and act accordingly.”

Other pubs across the county, such as The Gardener's Arms in Oxford, have also been reopening safely since July 4.

Eunan O’Neill, consultant in public health at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “It is because we have been working together as communities and following public health guidance that hospitality venues have been able to reopen.

“I would suggest anyone visiting a pub plan their visit, consider avoiding the busier times of day, and carefully follow the hygiene measures that venues have in place.”