£15k refurb creates drinking pods and outdoor bar Rose & Crown, Halesowen

The Rose and Crown on Hagley Road will join pubs across the country which are allowed to reopen for outdoor table service on Monday (April 12).

As part of the loosening of restrictions groups of six people or two households will be able to mingle.

The pub was given £15k worth of investment from Carling and Coors to install ten six-seater pods, as well as an outdoor bar.

The Rose & Crown pub

Landlord John Poole said people are keen to get back to their local for a pint.

He said: "People have been ringing me for the last eight weeks trying to book.

"We are taking bookings just for Monday.

"From Tuesday it will be first come first served, as when we had to do table service before it caused issues with people not turning up and it taking up a lot of staff time.

"It's not been easy, but you have to keep plodding on.

"I'm not looking forward to Monday night and the first Friday and Saturday nights!

"Seriously I don't think it will be crazy, but it will be good in June when things hopefully get back to normal."

The outdoor bar at the Rose and Crown in Halesowen

Drinkers must wear face masks when getting up from the table, but not when seated. They must social distance from other tables.

The pub, which John, who is a single-parent to two boys aged seven and four, leases from owner Greene King, can cater for 142 people but is only booking for 120.

It will open from noon till 11pm on Monday and from 3pm till 10pm on Tuesday April 13, Wednesday April 14 and Thursday April 15.

It will open from 2pm till 11pm on Friday April 16 and from noon till 11pm on Saturday April 17 and Sunday April 18.

The pub has a Facebook site.