Nearly two weeks after super Saturday, when pubs, cafés and restaurants were allowed to re-open, St Albans business owners are reflecting on this strange new world, in which customer behaviour is unpredictable, forecasting impossible, and their own processes have changed immeasurably.

Herts Advertiser: The White Lion in St Albans.The White Lion in St Albans. (Image: Archant)

Pubs seem to be weather dependent when it comes to attracting customers after re-opening.

“We have two marquees up, and lots of brollies,” says Alicia Nelson of The White Lion on Sopwell Lane, but the new process - there is a QR code on each table and ordering is by phone - has been smooth, and customers happy to be back.

“In some ways the new system works better than before,” Alicia says, “the longest someone had to wait for a drink on Saturday was 12 minutes.”

She had not known what to expect when they re-opened: “We wanted to take the safety above and beyond so people really felt safe here. We are such a small pub we had to completely change our systems.”

Despite this, The White Lion did have a super Saturday on the 4th: “We probably did 90 per cent of what we would have done on a Saturday,” says Alicia. But other days have been very quiet. And learning new ways of working, which are changing on a daily basis, has taken its toll: “We are all exhausted,” she laughs.

James Ward of Mad Squirrel Taproom in Heritage Close has also had to change his processes: “We have implemented a new QR code system where every customer can easily fill in their track-and-trace details and order to their table from their phones, keeping our guests and staff happy and safe.”

He says customers have adapted well: “They have been polite, understanding of the new rules and genuinely excited to experience a bit of normality again.” Since he opened on July 4, the demand has been significant; he’s had consistent bookings and has also allowed walk-ins.