IT is good news for Bents fans as the much-loved restaurant and cafes are set to reopen this week.

The team at Bents Garden & Home have been working hard behind the scenes to open one of the centre’s favourite attractions.

On Thursday, customers will be welcomed back to enjoy home cooked food, freshly prepared on the premises by Bents’ brigade of talented chefs.

The Fresh Approach Restaurant, Caffe nel Verde and the Pet Café will also be re-opening, and whilst all will be operating to strict guidelines in line with the latest government guidance.

They will be serving homemade favourites such as Bents’ soup selections, freshly prepared sandwiches, daily hot dishes, a choice of breakfasts as well as cakes and a wide range of hot and cold drinks.

On arrival, customers will be shown to a table, which will be clearly labelled to indicate it has been fully cleaned from previous use, handed a new disposable menu and orders will be taken.

Meals will be delivered direct to the table.

Matthew Bent, managing director at Bents Garden & Home: “We’ve had to make many changes to our dining offering, including a slightly reduced menu, but one thing I can assure all our customers is that our colleagues are committed to the same high standards and delicious home cooked food.

“Our chefs have been eager to get back in the kitchens and start using their skills again. They are working in very different conditions, but are doing a great job to ensure our customers get the very best quality and tasting food.”

Customers will have to be members of Bents Be Inspired privilege club and greeters will scan membership cards to help support test and trace strategies.

Bents will continue to limit the number of people in store, including those visiting the dining destinations, to ensure social distancing measures can be successfully achieved.

Bents’ new Coffee Huts, located next to both entrances, will continue to serve a range of drinks and breakfast items, sandwiches and ice cream, and plans are being put in place to introduce a similar quick service option within the Open Skies Glass House.

What to expect:

• Customers will be provided with a disposable menu

• Be inspired cards will be scanned for test and trace purposes

• A colleague will show customers to a table and take all orders

• Fresh cutlery will be supplied in a sealed pack

• Condiments will be brought to tables on request

• Orders will be brought to the table

• Contactless card payment will also be taken at the table

• Bents colleagues are receiving full training on all new procedures

• Hand sanitiser will be used before and after visits to tables

• Tables and chairs will be cleared and sanitised after every use

• Menus will be disposed of after each use

• Reduced seating is in place to ensure 2 metre social distancing, which may result in a slight wait