Must-Have Promotional Items For Reopening A Pub Or Restaurant

If you're preparing to reopen your pub, bar or restaurant in the post-lockdown world, Total Merchandise is here to help every step of the way.

With many diners, pubs and cafes already offering a takeaway service - and with some even adapting their business to provide a contactless delivery service - April 12th 2021 is hotly tipped to be when hospitality businesses can officially reopen.


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Editor’s Note: This article was originally written in June 2020 and has been updated for 2021.

Of course, the 'new normal' they'll be opening up into will be entirely different to what we're all used to.

Gone - for now, at least - are the days of jostling around the bar waiting to get served or fighting for tablespace on a busy Saturday night. Rather, social distancing and a need to be Covid-secure in aspects of operation will underpin the way pubs, bars and restaurants run once they reopen. 

When Will Pubs & Beer Gardens Reopen In The UK?

Whilst many have been offering a takeaway service, there has been much speculation as to when, exactly, pubs and beer gardens across the UK will officially reopen for service. 

May 17th is the date that the UK government has stated within the roadmap that will allow hospitality to reopen it's doors to customers visiting inside.

Regardless of when pubs 'properly' reopen, there is a much sooner date that will allow beer gardens to open on April 12th. From this date, restaurants and pub gardens will be allowed to serve customers seated outside - including alcohol; customers can also meet in a group of up to size people from different households and a maximum of two households can meet to form a group of any size.

Of course, these dates could easily change depending on factors such as the R number - but either way, it's happening soon!

Meanwhile, many cafes have already begun to reopen, offering new ways of service to delighted caffeine-starved customers. Of course, there's been a change in how things are run: leisurely sit-in coffees are a thing of the past and in their place are takeaway drinks, served in branded smoothie cups or printed paper cups; vinyl gloves, hand sanitiser on tap and optional branded face masks complete the grab-and-go efficiency perfectly.

Similarly, restaurants that once relied on dine-in custom have been flexing their business models to incorporate takeaways and online ordering; our range of promotional products for contactless deliveries can help make it that bit easier if that's something you've been considering, too. 

How Can Pubs, Restaurants & Bars Be Made Covid-Secure?

So what can your pub, restaurant or bar do to ensure it offers a custom-centric experience whilst also following social distancing practices?

The government guidelines advise that pubs that are throwing open their doors once more 'should...meet the COVID-19 Secure guidelines. Some venues which are, by design, crowded and where it may prove difficult to enact distancing may still not be able to re-open safely at this point'.

Of course, there is a wide range of significant changes to processes and procedures that pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK will currently be making to ensure they're ready for opening up in the safest possible way. From redesigning a layout to ensure it adheres to the government's social distancing guidelines to addressing outdoor space and how it can be used to seat customers, there are a lot of things to consider. It's a bit of a predicament, with some landlords concerned that reopening might not be truly feasible until the two-metre distancing rule has been lifted, whether in whole or in part.

We can help with that, too. We have a wide range of promotional social distancing products available, including everything from branded hand sanitiser and promotional face masks to social distancing floor stickers and signage printed with safety guidelines (including our Social Distancing Feather Banner Flags for outdoors, Social Distancing Wall Posters and A4 Desk Roller Banners, printed with social distancing messaging). 

As well as all the basics that can make your premises feel more Covid-secure, we also have promotional products for pubs, bars and restaurants that will help to enhance your service in the 'new normal'. Read on for our round-up of ideas...

Keep Staff & Customers Shielded With Protective Divider Screens

Whether used on a bar or perhaps even positioned against an open window, our Divider Screens are ideal for enabling customer interactions, whilst keeping both parties involved safe from the threat of germs.

These sneeze guard screens are made from clear acrylic, allowing for straightforward communication with appropriate social distancing precautions.

On a similar note, our KeepSafe Change Trays could also prove a useful investment. Printed with your branding, these coin trays reduce the scope for accidental contact during payment, including the brushing of fingertips when handing over receipts or change. Simple, yes - smart, definitely.

Nail Your Takeaway Offering For Enjoying Tipples At Home

Offering customers a 'drinks to go' selection can encourage them to enjoy your wares - but from the comfort of their own homes. From beer bottles printed with your branding through to wine carriers that feature your logo, we have all sorts of promotional products available that can help with this.

Whether you want promotional wine bottles (we have red and white available) or fun mini-sized Prosecco bottles, all of our alcoholic products feature your full colour branding applied to the label.

We also have promotional napkins, branded can coolers and printed bottle bags available, too - all the little details that will help add up to create a great customer experience and generate meaningful awareness for your establishment. 

Choose Branded Bottle Openers For Awareness With Every Sip

With pubs across the UK embracing 'window service' - holding customer interactions through open windows - branded bottle openers could prove to be a great investment for your pub or bar.

A promotional giveaway that your clientele can keep long after they've visited, we have a wide range of branded bottle openers, including keyrings and even novelty sunglasses that feature bottle openers built into the arms. No - really!

Browse our full range of branded bottle openers.

Consider Antibacterial Printed Counter Mats For The Hygiene Factor

From printed counter mats to branded coasters, we have a range of promotional products available that boast antibacterial properties, making them ideal for incorporating into bars and onto tabletops. 

So how does it work? These savvy branded products are coated in a special formula that can help to repel harmful bacteria and stop them from multiplying.

With everything from branded coasters to printed pens available, these antibacterial promotional items are ideal for adding an extra hygienic touch to the way your business operates - as well as an extra reassurance to your staff and customers that you're doing all you can. 

Browse our full range of antibacterial promotional products.

Get Outdoor Spaces Ready For Business

Finally: if you're getting a beer garden ready for action, don't forget to factor in the weather! With the glorious British summertime prone to both showers and heatwaves galore, it could be prudent to stock up on our branded parasols.

Ideal for helping to keep customers protected from rain and rays alike, these custom garden umbrellas are available in a range of colours and can be printed with your branding on all the panels.

From promotional products for contactless deliveries to antibacterial products printed with your logo, Total Merchandise has all the branded items your business could need this summer. Need help finding a specific item? Simply contact a member of our friendly and experienced Sales team on 01376 509092 or email info@totalmerchandise.co.uk! Visit our Coronavirus Hub for more information and updates.

Main image via Pexels.

Written by

Jason O'Connor | Co-Founder and Managing Director

Jason is our Managing Director and co-founded Total Merchandise in 2004. Sitting at the heart of the business, he's one of the most authoritative and trusted figures in the industry. Overseeing a business that's grown from a spare room start-up to an award-winning company that works with huge brands across the UK and employs more than 50 people, he sits at the heart of Total Merchandise. When he's not in the office, Jason likes to relax with music or Netflix boxsets, spend time with his family and walk his dogs.

Connect with Jason O'Connor on LinkedIn Connect with Jason O'Connor on LinkedIn

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