A Portishead cafe and bar wants to sell alcohol along with takeaway food as it adapts to the lockdown.
Impero Lounge has applied to change its licence to allow “off sales” of alcoholic drinks in sealed containers.
The High Street venue closed its doors on March 20 as the lockdown took hold, with the staff furloughed, but it reopened with a new takeaway menu last week.
New safety measures are in place which could be seen across the industry, including temperature checks for the staff at the start of each shift.
Sophia Stancer, Lounge’s community coordinator, said: “While our typical offering has been reduced, there is still an array of tempting options for everyone.
“The team are glad to be back in action serving up Lounging once more to the community of Portishead.
“I can’t give you an exact date at this time for when we’ll reopen sites for sit-in customers.
“However, I can guarantee it’ll only be when it’s deemed absolutely safe for our wonderful customers and staff to do so and we’re hugely looking forward to that day.
“We know it’s better to be safe than sorry, which is why we’re making sure our staff members are fit and healthy by checking their symptoms before each shift including temperature checks and are limiting the number of orders carefully to avoid potential crowding, reducing waiting times, and ensuring top quality takeaway food.”
Other safety measures include markings on the floor to ensure social distancing, screens at tills that only take contactless payments and a limit on the number of customers.
General manager Wayne Hodder said: “It has been really great being back and being able to welcome everyone back into the Lounge.
“I think we have missed the Portishead community as much as they have missed us and we look forward to seeing more of our regulars over the next few weeks.”
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Seven Lounge sites are already open for takeaway and another 10 will follow next week.
The chain is currently offering a 25 per cent discount to all NHS staff and donating 50p to local charities from every burger and main course sold.
North Somerset Council will consider changing the licence for Impero Lounge.
