Which Pret a Manger cafes have reopened in the UK?
PRET A MANGER is opening its doors once again after shutting its doors due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The cafe chain, which has over 500 stores in the UK alone, has reopened a number of its locations near to hospitals to best provide food and drink to the frontline NHS workers, with only takeaway and delivery available.
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What Pret a Manger cafes are open?
Ten stores have been opened in a bid to help out the NHS staff, who can get 50 per cent off on everything until the end of April.
They will also be dishing out 7,000 extra meals a week to homeless charities to help those most in need.
The cafes and shops that are reopening are:
- Fulham Road, Fulham, London
- Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London
- St George’s University Hospital, London
- Circus Road, St John’s Wood, London
- Kings Road, London
- City Road, London
- Great Portland Street, London
- St George’s Wharf, Vauxhall, London
- Warren Street, London
- Tooting Broadway, London
They will be open from 8am to 2pm everyday, but customers will not be allowed to sit inside the cafe, instead must take away.
Only a limited menu will available including their most popular sandwiches, salads and baguettes – but Pret shops will have essentials including milk, butter and tea.
What social distancing measures are in place at Pret a Manger?
The 160 team members working in Pret have all volunteered to provide customers – in particularly NHS workers – food and drink in these dire times.
But all Pret workers will be paid 100 per cent of their wages, whether they have volunteered or not, as those living with vulnerable people not allowed to return.
Among the measures put in place by the cafe chain, including distancing team members and baristas behind the counter, while protective Perspex screens will be fitted to separate customers and workers.
Only card payments allowed to avoid the risk of spread through cash, while there will only be a maximum of six customers in the shops and cafes at a time – with markings placed two metres apart for those queuing outside.
To give customers peace of mind, all hand contact surfaces will have a strict 30-minute santising system, while movement in kitchens will be minimised where possible.
Latest coronavirus news
When did Pret a Manger close due to lockdown?
Pret a Manger shut its doors on March 21, joining Starbucks in closing due to the latest coronavirus social distancing measures.
It was soon followed by McDonald’s the following day as the UK began the process of going into lockdown.
As of April 16, there are no indications when more Pret a Manger shops and cafes will be reopening.