Diners at a Norfolk restaurant described its new outdoor pods as “wonderful”, as part of measures to keep customers safe as lockdown eases.
The Barn Restaurant, in Terrington St John, near King’s Lynn, has installed five dining bubbles which help to ensure social distancing.
The pods, which cost restaurant owner, Josh Green, £12,000, can seat couples and tables of up to six people.
Mr Green said he got the idea for the pods from seeing similar structures used in America and on London’s Embankment at Christmas.
“They are very, very booked up,” he said. “It’s gone a bit crazy.”
At the restaurant waiters in face visors serve diners, leaving food on a table outside the pods for them to collect themselves if preferred.
Robert Rose, 71, who lives nearby, dined in one of the pods with his wife Nanette and two of their friends.
He said: “We do miss eating out and socialising but it’s nice to be back.”
Mrs Rose, 70, described the pods as “wonderful”.
READ MORE: Dining pods the latest foodie trend as restaurants reopen after lockdown
The restaurant normally has 100 covers inside, but this has been more than halved to allow for two-metre social distancing.
The addition of the outdoor pods has helped limit the impact of restrictions on the restaurant’s capacity.
Guests must use hand sanitiser when entering and exiting the pods, and Mr Green said the pods are chemically cleaned after each use.
The pods, which are air-conditioned and heated, have proved popular and weekends are booked up until September.
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