PUBS and restaurants in Lyme Regis will be opening their doors on Saturday, July4 – but it will be an entirely different experience for diners and drinkers. The more expansive premises are definitely opening but there is some doubt whether the smaller establishments will follow suit despite the social distancing rules being reduced from two metres to one-plus.

Among those opening on July 4 are the Pilot Boat, SWIM, Lyme Bay Café Bar, the Harbour Inn, the Royal Standard, the Talbot Arms in Uplyme and the refurbished Rock Point, which all haveoutside seating areas.  For the smaller venues such as The Volunteer, the Nag’s Head and the Ship Inn, it will be more difficult to adhere to government advice, even though the distancerequired between tables has been reduced.

Lyme’s biggest pub/restaurant, the Pilot Boat, will reduce its indoor covers from 160 to 80 with additional room on its terrace where reservations will not be taken.

Licensee Robin Collyns has been working in the hospitality trade for 40 years.  He told LymeOnline: “I have managed through two recessions but nothing like this. We just don’t know how it will work out.”

The Pilot will open its doors from 9am to 10pm every day, Table reservations are required for dining which must include a main course per person. Each table will be reserved for one hour 45 minutes from the time booked. There will be no standing at the bar and all drinks will be served to the table. Those just requiring drinks do not have to book a table but will be offered one on arrival on a first come first serve basis.Every guest who comes into the Pilot will be registered. There will be limited space for dogs.A takeaway service for pizzas will continue to be available.The two-metre rule will still be observed between tables in the bar and restaurant, with tables on the terrace one and a half metres apart. A one-way system will be in operation throughout the building.

Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned at least every 30 minutes, there will be hand sanitizers throughout the building and tables will be disinfected between guests.

Mr Collyns said: “We will be doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our customers and our staff and the key message is to book a table.” Other venues in the town will be following similar guidelines.

Cocktails – very trendy in the roaring 1920s – came back into vogue following the film ‘Cocktail’, starring Tom Cruise, in 1988.

The film, which grossed $171 million at the box office, told the story of a New York city business student who takes up bar- tending to make ends meet.
Suddenly being a bartender became very trendy – and among those to follow in Tom Cruise’s shoes was Rohan Wingham who taught himself how to make all the most popular cocktails made famous in the film.
In fact, Rohan, 25, wasn’t born when the film was released but he has worked for the Collyns family since he was 16, learn- ing all aspects of the hospitality trade.

The Collyns – Robin and Angela and sons Ben and Tom – run the Pilot Boat in Lyme Regis, one of the town’s most popular venues for cocktails.
To celebrate the new decade, the bar staff at the Pilot are running masterclasses in which Rohan demonstrates how to mix and shake some of the more popular cock- tails available.
It’s a great way to spend an afternoon or early evening for groups of up to ten who have the choice of making up to three cocktails each

The cocktails available at the Pilot Boat, which cost £8 each, include the following: Bloody Mary, Espresso Martini, Moscow Mule, Vodka Martini, Blackberry Bramble, Gin Martini, Dorset Fizz, Strawberry Col- lyns, Smoked Scotch Old Fashioned, Mo- jito/Spiced Mojito, Dark And Stormy, Tropical Twist, Bellini, Mimosa, Pimm’s Fizz and Aperol Spritz. Non-alcoholic options (mocktails) are also available on the menu.

And now LymeOnline is able to bring our readers the opportunity of winning a mas- terclass for four who will make two cock- tails each with a free pizza afterwards. The prize is worth £100 plus.

We can vouch for what an enjoyable ex- perience it is as the LymeOnline staff tested out the masterclass for our Christmas party.
All you have to do is answer the following three easy questions and send your an- swers to Cocktail Competition, LymeOn- line, Unit 5, Uplyme Business Park, Lyme Regis, Dorset DT7 3LS or email your an- swers to edit@lyme-online.co.uk. Don’t forget to include your telephone number. The closing date is 12noon on Thursday, March 5.

Here are the questions:
It’s a great way to spend an afternoon or early evening for groups of up to ten who have the choice of making up to three cocktails each.
2. What year was the film ‘Cocktail’ re- leased?
1. What is the surname of the family run- ning the Pilot Boat?
3. Who starred in the film?
The competition is open to families with mocktails available for the children.