THE Looking Glass in Buttermarket Street is set to reopen its outdoor seating area on a first-come, first-served basis next month as part of the easing of Covid restrictions.

Wetherspoons is to let customers back into its beer gardens, rooftop gardens and patios at around half of its pubs in England when the lockdown continues to relax from April 12, the company has announced.

There are currently no plans to reopen Warrington's other Wetherspoons pub - The Friar Penketh in Barbauld Street - in April. The pub has very limited outdoor seating. 

Altogether, almost 400 Wetherspoons pubs will be open from 9am to 9pm from Sunday to Thursday and 9am to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays, although some will have restrictions on closing times.

They will offer a slightly reduced menu, with food available from 9am to 8pm seven days a week.

Customers will be able to order and pay through the Wetherspoon app, and staff will be able to take orders and payment at the table.

The pubs will not be operating a booking system.

Customers will be able to enter the pubs to gain access to the outside areas and use toilets, while test and trace will be in operation and hand sanitisers will be available.

Wetherspoon runs The Friar Penketh and The Looking Glass in Warrington town centre.

Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said: "We are looking forward to welcoming our customers and staff back to our pubs."

Pubs and restaurants in England will be able to serve customers outdoors from April 12 as part of the road map out of the lockdown which has devastated the hospitality sector.