Over the last few weeks as the lockdown has been eased, we have gradually been expanding our activities, first with the opening of our grounds for exercise and practice on 20 May 2020 and subsequently the start of Club training on 10 June 2020. It has been a challenging environment, but, with a lot of hard work, much of it by our members on a voluntary basis, the response from our members has been fantastic. We have near record numbers of members using the Club’s facilities, and all this is a COVID compliant environment.

We are now pleased to announce the next stage of the expansion of our activities with the opening of the bar facilities at Corfton Road. More details of this are set out below.

We have also received news this afternoon from the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) re the start of cricket matches from 11 July 2020. We have been working hard in recent weeks in anticipation of this news and we are confident that we will be ready when matches commence. We now await the detailed guidance from ECB that will allow us to finalise our plans and we expect that we will make a further announcement next week.

Guidelines related to the opening of the Bar Facilities at Corfton Road

The bar facilities at Corfton Road will open from tomorrow, 4 July 2020.

Initially the bar opening times will be restricted as follows:

• Saturdays 2.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.
• Sundays 2.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
• Fridays 4.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m., starting from 10 July 2020

We will review the opening times with the hope that we will be able to open more frequently as long as we are satisfied that the bar facilities can be operated safely and economically.

There will be a one way system of entry and exit, both to and from the ground and to and from the pavilion. Please enter the ground from the main gate in Corfton Road. There will be signs to direct you where to go. Please pay attention to these.

When you arrive at the ground, and wish to use the bar facilities, you will be asked to register so we know who is there. We will retain this information for 21 days.

Payment at the bar must be by debit/credit card or Members’ card only. We may not have a full range of drinks/snacks available to buy in the initial stages.

There will only be limited seating, and no standing, inside the pavilion. Racing, Football and Cricket will be shown on the TVs in the pavilion, at the discretion of the Duty Manager.

Outside, you may sit at tables and chairs, on benches or on the grass, using your own chairs if you want to bring them, but the Club’s furniture should not be moved.

Some umbrellas and gazebos will be available and can provide cover but people will not be able to shelter in the pavilion if it is raining.

The toilets inside the pavilion will be available on a one in, one out basis. Please make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilets.

Please return all glassware and bottles to the designated Glass Drop Area and place all rubbish in relevant General/Recycling bins provided or take it home with you.

You are likely to have to queue when you enter the pavilion, when buying drinks/snacks or using the toilets. Please maintain a social distance and be patient if you have to do this.

A fundamental principle underlying the opening of the bar is the maintenance of social distancing. This means keeping two metres apart, unless this is not possible or if you are from the same household and you must not congregate in groups of more than 2 households or more than 6 people from different households.

The pavilion, including the toilets, will be cleaned regularly and hand sanitiser will be available at various locations.

Our priority is for everyone’s safety, so please bear with us while we all get used to the new procedures. There may be things that we will change and any important changes will be communicated via the Club’s website. Our goal is to try to keep everything as efficient and pain free as possible while adhering to the guidance that we have been given.

We are all responsible for each other at the moment so please be kind and respectful to everyone, and particularly to our staff. Verbal abuse and anti-social behaviour, including ignoring the social distancing guidelines, will not be tolerated.

A polite reminder about some important things

• Please do not come to the Club, for any reason if you are ill or have COVID-19 symptoms, however mild.

• Your attendance at the Club confirms that no one in your household, nor anyone who you have been in contact with, has experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 14 days.

• Please advise us if you develop COVID-19 symptoms following your visit to the Club

• Please avoid using public transport when coming to the Club and follow the latest Government travel advice

• Please wear face coverings where social distancing of less than 2 metres is not possible

• The Club is not responsible for your children inside the pavilion and when they are not involved in cricket activities and we would be grateful if you ensure that they follow the guidelines above