"If customers don't adhere, they will get asked to leave" - how owners of Leeds bars Manahatta, Box and Banyan are dealing with COVID guidelines

Arc Inspirations operates the Manahatta, Banyan and BOX bar brands across the city and says it has taken a lead role in working with the police and council to make sure the going out experience is enjoyable for the public, but, also safe for them and staff.

The bars re-opened back in July and since then have "learned a lot", says head of marketing, Laura Lewis, but are ready for the wave of students that are expected to be flocking to the city and students hotspots, such as Headingley, over the coming weeks.

She was speaking as West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council carried out random spot checks on premises in Headingley yesterday as part of a joint operation to make sure premises are meeting COVID guidelines.

"We feel confident in terms of students coming back that we can."

Some of the measures that Arc Inspirations has introduced are hand-sanitising on entry, social distancing between tables and perspex sheets between them, paying by card or contactless, table service and ordering and paying via an app to limit movement around the building.While booking is not essential, it is encouraged.

However, despite measures and rules being in place, the bars have also trained bar staff and door staff to enforce them if needed.

Mrs Lewis added: "We could still get a group of ten turning up. The teams and door staff, because they are two and a half months in, are confident and able to challenge customers. The rule of six is new but we have been applying new rules over the last two and a half months.

"We have been really firm if a customer is not adhering - they will get asked to leave.

"The most challenging bit is staying abreast of the guidelines and the fact that they are changing and we have to react. It can be challenging because for us we have 17 sites in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle and we are now in a world where policies are different for different places. We have to be flexible and react quickly but we are just pleased to be open."

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Thank you

Laura Collins