AFTER a long three months, hospitality venues are finally set to be able to reopen this week.
From Monday, venues can reopen providing they have an outdoor area at the premises.
Diners will be able to meet in a group of up to six people from different households, while a maximum of two households can meet to form a group of any size.
Sadly, not all of our favourites will be able to reopen, but many will be welcoming back customers for the first time since the third national lockdown was introduced in January.
There's still plenty of choice if you're looking to meet some friends or family - just make sure you book first.
Here are all the places in Colchester reopening this week:
Three Wise Monkeys
Three Wise Monkeys, in High Street, will be reopening to punters from April 12.
Guests will be able to drink and dine al fresco in front of the craft tap and smokehouse at Three Wise Monkeys.
Food and drink will be available to order via Deliveroo or click and collect during the opening hours too.
Tables are available to book through The Monkey App or websites.
Banquet Chinese, Copford
The restaurant has a heated and covered seating are in its garden.
Customers can call 01206 211588 to reserve.
Wagamama
The noodle and katsu chain has confirmed 72 of its venues will open for al fresco dining next month, including three in Essex.
And its site in Colchester High Street is one of those reopening from April 12.
Book online at www.wagamama.com.
Dice and a Slice
The popular board game cafe, in Queen Street, will be open every Saturday and Sunday.
Food, cakes and hot and cold drinks are available, as well as the huge library of board games.
Visit www.diceandaslice.co.uk.
Tymperleys
The Trinity Street cafe will be reopening to outside diners from Monday, April 12.
Cash and card payments will be accepted with table service and the rule of six will apply.
Twisters
Twisters' famous beer garden will also be open for tables of two to six people from this date, with all of its wide selection of drinks on offer.
Like Three Wise Monkeys, Twisters is owned by Pasini Leisure.
Tables are available to book through The Monkey App or websites.
Yates
Stonegate Group's Head Street venue is reopening to outside drinkers and diners from Monday.
Tables can be booked by calling 03300 949251 or via www.stonegategroup.co.uk/find-your-local.
Waldergraves Holiday Park
A holiday park has unveiled a new outdoor clubhouse in time for reopening after lockdown.
Waldergraves Holiday Park, in Waldergraves Lane, West Mersea, has opened the new facility, called The Courtyard.
The facility is open Monday to Thursday from 12noon to 10pm and Friday to Sunday 10am to 10pm.
To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/waldegraves.co.uk.
Turtle Bay
The Caribbean chain is reopening its Colchester High Street venue for outsider diners, but not until May 1.
All their usual favourites, as well as their famous cocktails, will be available.
Their famous bottomless brunch is also set to be available at many of its restaurants.
The Sandbank
This one is brand new and located at Park Holiday UK's West Mersea Holiday Park.
It is just a stones throw from the beach and will be offering outside dining space from April 12.
It is open to the wider public as well as holiday park guests and you can just enjoy a drink by the coast too from the bar.
Zizi
The Italian chain is opening its outside seating areas on April 12.
It is located in Headgate, just off Head Street.
Trotters
Trotters, in Middleborough, will be reopening for food and drink from April 15.
It will be table service, outside seating only, card payments only and the rule of six will apply.
To book, visit www.facebook.com/TrottersBar or call 07725346856.
The Foresters Arms
The pub will be opening its new solar lit bistro area this month.
They are aiming to take customers on holiday with weekly themed cuisine and music.
Wimpy
The famous High Street burger restaurant is opening its outside space for diners.
There will be space for 35 customers.
Prezzo
The restaurant giant is reopening outside at its venue in Culver Street East.
It will be open from 5pm to 9pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm to 9pm Friday and 12noon to 9pm at weekends.
Read more:
- First look at new £1.2m complex at Park Holiday's West Mersea Holiday Park
- Jubilee Restaurant announces it will reopen this month
- The Colchester bars and restaurants reopening in April
Pavilion Restaurant
The Middleborough restaurant will be reopening to diners not on the 12th, but the day after on the 13th April.
The outside space will be both heated and covered with the restaurant open Tuesday to Sunday.
For more information, click here.
Fashions Cafe Bar
Fashions is normally a popular late night haunt for revellers in the town centre.
The beer garden will be open to customers from April 12.
Kings Arms
The Kings Arms' beer garden is famous in Colchester and it will welcome back visitors from the 12, Greene King has announced.
Table service will of course be in operation as per the latest lockdown rules.
Made and Found
A vintage-themed bar is reopening to the public on Monday, it has been announced.
Francis Sheridan King opened the new facility at her Made and Found Colchester store, in Scheregate Steps, during lockdown in August.
The shop, and the bar, will be reopening as lockdown rules are eased on Monday.
Francis said: "We have seating outside and serve locally sourced craft beers and Colchester-themed cocktails."
Jubilee Restaurant
Jubilee Restaurant, in Old Ipswich Road, Ardleigh, will be reopening to outside diners from Wednesday, April 14.
Both the restaurant's famous breakfasts and lunch will be available from 8am.
A new covered outside dining area with space for 60 plus people has been created and there is also additional space in the open air.
For more information, visit jubilee-restaurant.co.uk or search Jubilee Restaurant in Facebook.
Silk Road
Queen Street's Silk Road will be opening its outside space, which has 16 tables, seven days a week from Monday, April 12.
To book a table, message the bar on Facebook at www.facebook.com/silkroadcolchester or call 07432 471014.
Rovers Tye
Greene King has announced its Rovers Tye pub and restaurant, in Highwoods Approach, will reopen on April 12.
It is one of five of the chain's venues reopening in April in north Essex.
Customers can book tables now by clicking here.
Mimosa Restaurant and Lounge
The fine dining venue on the Severalls Industrial Estate is reopening for customers outside on April 13.
The dining area will be both heated and covered.
Queen Street Brewhouse
The popular bar will not be opening until April 25, but it will be reopening at least.
Drinkers will be served in the alley at the side of the pub.
Initially the venue will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between 11am and 9pm.
Lion Walk 'Secret Garden'
Not technically a restaurant or bar, but the shopping centre's new winter garden opens on Monday, when non-essential shops can also reopen.
There will be drink and food on offer for people to enjoy in the garden.
The Marquis
The historic pub in Colchester town centre has announced it will be reopen on Monday - with lots of space in its newly refurbished beer garden.
The North Hill venue will be reopening every day of the week from 12noon to midnight.
There is a large amount of seating available in the pub's newly refurbished garden with heated and covered space also on offer.
Food is being served every day until 8pm.
The Marquis is one of Colchester's oldest pubs and normally a favourite amongst sports fans.
To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/MarquisColchester.
Rollerworld
The famous skating rink, in the Eastgates Industrial Estate, is opening a beer garden.
Best of all parents can enjoy a drink whilst youngsters have coaching sessions at the premises.
Princess Charlotte
The popular Stanway pub and restaurant will be reopening for outside diners on April 12, it has been confirmed.
The firm had been offering Sunday roast takeaways during lockdown, but these will stop in preparation for reopening.
When can venues reopen indoors?
Hospitality businesses should be able to reopen their doors to indoor diners and drinkers on May 17, if the Government's roadmap out of lockdown moves ahead as planned.
Have we missed you off our list?
Email robbie.bryson@newsquest.co.uk with details and we'll add you.
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