PUB operator Hall & Woodhouse has confirmed that four of its Hampshire pubs will open for outdoor use next month - including one in Southampton.

From April 14, following the lifting of government restrictions, the four pubs will reopen with a limited menu, a contactless ordering system and social distancing measures in place.

They are:

  • Osborne View, Fareham
  • The Plough, Bursledon
  • The Portsmouth Arms, Hatch Warren
  • The Holly Blue, Beggarwood

Matt Kearsey, managing director of Hall & Woodhouse, said: “We are delighted to be able to re-open a number of our houses for outdoor use. Our pubs play a vital role in their community and we are excited to be making preparations to welcome our guests back safely. We’ve missed them.

“We have created all-weather solutions to cope with the obvious challenges of only opening outside in April. Guests will be able to book a number of covered tables if they do not want to take their chances with the Great British weather.”

Guests are encouraged to pre-book a table online. Bookings of no more than six people will be available with a 90-minute slot at the table.

The pub chain says it will begin the phased re-opening of the rest of its managed house estate across the south from week commencing Monday, May 17, in line with the government’s roadmap.