The West Lothian village of Winchburgh has managed to keep its only pub, The Tally Ho, after it re-opened yesterday (6th July) with a host of new safety measures and an extended alfresco seating area featuring two new marquees.
Licensees Yvonne (currently the British Masters Champion Weightlifter 64kg) and Trevor Spence have spent lockdown making the changes that include a 115 seating capacity in the beer garden thanks to 70 new chairs. The tables are positioned so that customers in different groups can still socialise together plus there’s a dedicated area for older customers and those feeling more cautious.
The Spences have been greeting customers at the door and explaining the new procedures to them including a one-way system, table service using a mobile Perspex screen and a traffic light scheme for the toilets. Whilst contactless payment and ordering via an app is encouraged, the pub still accepts cash and takes pen and paper orders for those without phones.
The Spences took over The Tally Ho – their first pub – in August last year following a £400,000 refurbishment with Star Pubs & Bars.
Said Trevor, “We’ve missed our regulars and feel excited to be bringing some normality back to people’s lives again. As soon as we opened up table reservations, they started flying in, and we were booked out for Saturday 11thwithin hours.”
