We must all act responsibly when pubs reopen on Saturday, Boris Johnson to tell drinkers

The success of reopening thousands of pubs on Saturday will depend on drinkers acting responsibly and not letting them down, Boris Johnson will warn on Friday.

The Prime Minister will say the reopening "will only succeed if everyone works together" and warn that restrictions will reimposed if coronavirus "starts running out of control again".

Businesses in England have been rushing to make sure they are ready for so-called "Super Saturday" after Mr Johnson said they could reopen from July 4 after more than 100 days of lockdown.

The Prime Minister will say that Saturday is "about supporting the livelihoods of business owners and their employees up and down the country" and paying tribute to their "heroic effort" to reopen.

He will warn: "The success of these businesses, the livelihoods of those who rely on them, and ultimately the economic health of the whole country is dependent on every single one of us acting responsibly. We must not let them down.

"Just as when we first locked down, we will only succeed in reopening if everyone works together – because we are not out of the woods yet.

"The virus is still with us, and the spike in Leicester has shown that. If it starts running out of control again, the Government will not hesitate in putting on the brakes and reimposing restrictions.

"Anyone who flouts social distancing and Covid Secure rules is not only putting us all at risk but letting down those businesses and workers who have done so much to prepare for this new normal.

"So as we take this next step, our biggest step yet, on the road to recovery, I urge the British public to do so safely."

It comes as the head of one of the country's biggest business lobby groups said Britons should consider it their "civic duty" to support their local businesses.

Adam Marshall, the director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, which represents tens of thousands of British firms, told Friday's Chopper's Politics podcast: "It is a civic duty for all of us to consider how we can best support our local businesses.

"For those who are shielding or have health conditions, there are ways to support your local businesses over the internet and via home deliveries. We do hope that people will slowly, steadily get back and do whatever they can to help their local businesses thrive."

Mr Marshall warned that boarded-up shops would become a more familiar sight on the High Street, saying: "There is no question in my mind that we are going to lose some businesses – some will be shops and other businesses to consumer propositions for whom the market just isn't there any more."

It comes as people returning to pubs and restaurants after months of lockdown were warned that they would need to bring their own umbrellas.

Revellers will face a number of measures to ensure social distancing, including one-way systems. Some pubs have drawn circles on the floor for people to stand and drink in, and many will rely on their outdoor spaces as they are limited in the numbers they can allow in to maintain a "one-metre plus" distance between customers.

But the weather could dampen plans for revelry, with the Met Office predicting "spells of rain for many".

Those who do manage to find a spot indoors are likely to find that the music or sport on TV is quieter than usual, as pubs are turning down the volume to stop people shouting after studies have shown that raising your voice can create droplets that spread the disease.

Most premises will be asking people to book in advance, will be taking the details of all their customers for contact tracing, and getting people to order drinks at the table or via an app rather than queuing at the bar.

But police have warned people not to get carried away as they say that the decision to open on a Saturday, combined with live sport, is going to create a "perfect storm" which may leave forces struggling to cope.

Stu Berry, the chairman of the Greater Manchester Police Federation, said: "I understand that the public wants to get back to normality. But what is extremely concerning is the decision to reopen bars on a Saturday after three months of prohibition, while you're still televising live football matches… now that is a perfect storm."

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, where extra police will be on patrol, warned: "This Saturday shouldn't be seen as a 'Super Saturday', or like a New Year's Eve. We've got to remember we're in the midst of a global pandemic, the virus is still there."

David Jamieson, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "For the Government to announce this is going to take place on a Saturday in the high summer is utterly ridiculous".

He said the decision showed the "detachment of No 10 from the reality on the ground" and warned that "it's probably going to be impossible for the police to deal with it if it gets really out of hand".

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