The co-owner of a pub in Bromborough says he simply cannot wait to welcome people back indoors when Government restrictions are loosened on Monday.

Andy Williams runs the Bow-Legged Beagle in Bromborough village, but the micropub has spent more time closed than open thanks to the fallout of coronavirus.

However, with rules allowing pubs and restaurants to welcome customers back inside from Monday, May 17, he is looking forward to getting what had become an extremely popular local drinking establishment back up and running.

Speaking exclusively to the Globe, Andy said: "I'm made up. I can't wait. I'm sick of the sight of beer in milk bottles. I just want to put it back in a glass.

"I've done every take-out window bar one for the past year. We opened up in July for a bit and then the restrictions came back in and then we had to close again and go back to take-out and deliveries.

A vast array of unusual beers are lined up ready to be sold in the Bow-Legged Beagle

A vast array of unusual beers are lined up ready to be sold in the Bow-Legged Beagle

"Because the pub had only been open in Bromborough for such a short space of time it was important for me to make sure that it was well grounded."

Andy and business partner John Smith have three Beagles in Wirral. Their New Brighton premises has already been able to reopen thanks to its outdoor space but Upton and Bromborough takes them back to a three-strong operation from Monday.

Publican Andy says that even through lockdown they have been able to forge strong relationships with people in the area.

He said: "Just from the take-outs you get to know everyone on a personal basis. That's why we decided to do it because you still need that interaction with the customers, especially because we were so new (in Bromborough).

"When we first started doing it there was a queue down the road. It was enough to make you well up. A very humbling experience.

"Another reason we did it was to help the breweries out, because they weren't getting any support at all. They had all this beer that they couldn't sell.

Packets of Nuts have arrived ready for the reopening on Monday (May 17)

Packets of Nuts have arrived ready for the reopening on Monday (May 17)

"I think we were the first pub in the North West to do it (lockdown take-outs). People like to see a place adapt."

When national rules prevented even take-outs, the pub loaded all of its stock into the Bromborough premises and ran a delivery service instead.

"I've met a lot of people in this last year just from doing the take-outs and deliveries and know those people are probably going to come in," he added.

Bucking the trend of many small businesses that have had to make redundancies during the pandemic, Andy has actually been able to grow his team by adding two new members of staff.

He said: "I think what people like about the place is that there's no airs and graces. It's just drink - that's what you get. Primarily beer but an ever-changing range of stuff. That's it.

"We don't try and do too many things. We just try to do one thing and one thing well.

"I can't wait to get people back in. Track and trace will be in place. Rest assured we are clean and will do everything that we can to make people feel safe.

"There's a great camaraderie in our pubs. A bit of a Cheers-bar mentality. "If you're on your own you'll always have a friend in here at some point."