The sight of queues at the bar were nowhere to be seen at lunchtime in Harrogate today, despite the lifting of all remaining social distancing restrictions.
Drinkers have got used to table service over the past 12 months and it appears many pubs in the town centre have opted to keep the measure.
I took a walk around the town this afternoon to gauge the feeling as Harrogate experienced Freedom Day.
The atmosphere seemed to be one of caution, rather than cramming to get to the bar.
It felt as though many bar owners had one eye on the soaring covid rate, which is now almost at its highest ever.
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In Wetherspoons, punters were allowed to go up to the bar but they also had the option to stay in their seat to order via a QR code.
However, screens are in place between tables to protect customers and hand sanitiser remains at the entrance, along with a queuing system.
Wetherspoons in Harrogate, which still had a queueing system outside and hand sanitiser on hand this afternoon.
The keeping of table service and hand sanitiser was replicated across bars in town.
North Bar on Cheltenham Parade, has gone one step further by encouraging customers on its Facebook page to wear masks while moving around the bar.
Similarly, bar staff are on hand at Threes’ A Crowd, West Park, to serve customers where they sit — though they are still welcome to order at the bar.
The feeling among some pubs owners in the town centre is probably best summed up by the Disappearing Chin, on Beulah Street.
On Sunday, the bar took down its screen which had covered the length of the bar since last year.
However, despite taking the decision to remove it as restrictions were lifted, a post on its Facebook said:
“It’s been so tough with all the restrictions and unfortunately it doesn’t feel good that they’re finally being lifted.
“We’re excited to get back to normal but we’re not pushing it.”
