WETHERSPOON is to open beer gardens, rooftop gardens and patios at pubs when the lockdown continues to ease from April 12, the company has announced.

The Penny Black in Witton Street is among 394 of the chain's premises set to operate as outdoor hospitality venues.

The 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 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.

Wetherspoon has 875 pubs in the UK, including 750 in England.

Last year JD Wetherspoon made a loss of £105.4 million after sales took a £556 million hit from the Covid-19 crisis.