London’s largest fine dining operator, D & D London, plans to open 13 restaurants as of July 4.

London’s largest fine dining operator has begun opening preparations, with the government saying restaurants, bars and cafes will be operational by July 4, although it has not yet been confirmed. Des Gunewardena, the chief executive of D&D London, said he was ready to provide a “buzzy and warm experience” for customers looking forward to eating out again after lockdown. In addition, Mr Gunewardena said that internal layouts have been reconfigured to maintain social distancing. He said he had looked at a range of options to make the restaurants appealing but also safe, including hiring robot waiters to deliver food to tables. Mr Gunewardena said the closures since March 17, combined with the bill for safety measures for reopening will cost the company at least £10 million.

Staff serving customers will wear masks and gloves, menus will be provided on phones and all payments will be contactless, London Indoors reported. Gunewardena said, “When people come I don’t want the first thing that they notice to be ‘oh they’re really good on their PPE’ — that’s important but it should be secondary. We don’t want them to feel they’re going into hospital and about to be operated on.”