What Greggs looks like as it reopens today including signs telling shoppers to stay ‘fifteen sausage rolls’ apart

AFTER three months of lockdown, Greggs fans can finally get their hands on a steak bake from today.

The high street bakery chain has reopened 800 branches for takeaway and delivery orders.

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Already this morning, customers have been queuing up to get their pastry fix.

But branches aren't the same as before - it's had to introduce new rules in branches to keep customers and staff safe while it trades during the coronavirus pandemic.

To encourage customers to follow social distancing and stay two metres apart, the bakery has put up fun signs telling customers the distance is equal to around 15 of its famous sausage rolls.

Social distancing rules will make the queues to get into a branch longer than normal, but don't be put off.

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Like many other retailers, Greggs has put up perspex screens at the tills to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Staff have also been given protective gear (PPE), including face masks and gloves to wear, while at work.

Branches have been told to up their cleaning game with more frequent checks, and hand sanitiser stations have been set up in stores.

Customers are being encouraged to pay by card if they can although they won't be turned away if they only have cash.

All seating areas and toilets will remain closed.

Like McDonald's, Greggs will only offer a limited menu but it will include classics such as steak bakes, sausage rolls, vegan sausage rolls and doughnuts - see the box below for the full list.

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Branches will operate shorter opening hours, from 9am until 3pm, although this may vary depending on the store so it's worth looking for your local opening hours using the .

Of the 800 stores reopening, 19 of will also offer delivery through JustEat - you can find out if your local is partnered with the service by logging into the app and if it appears as an option then it is.

But it's worth bearing in mind you'll have to fork out a delivery fee of £1.50 for an order for Greggs.

If delivery proves popular, Greggs hopes to roll out the service to more branches at a later date.

There are 2,050 Greggs branches in the UK and the bakery chain hopes to open more in the first few weeks of July if the initial opening is successful.

You can see the full list of Greggs stores that are open today here.

It comes a month after it shelved plans to reopen 20 stores due to overcrowding fears – but instead tested making food for charities.

The bakery chain warns that it doesn't expect sales to return to pre-lockdown levels immediately, as customers get used to the new way of shopping.

Because of this, a proportion of Greggs' staff will remain on furlough, either fully or part-time, until things return to normal.

It has also temporarily paused its new shop opening programme but still hopes to open 50 new branches this year, and close 60 at the same time.

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Greggs boss Roger Whiteside said: "Looking forward, although great uncertainty remains, we are excited to be resuming our service for many customers this week.  

"We are confident of our ability to adapt to market conditions in the short term while continuing to invest in the long-term growth of our business.

"I want to thank all of our 25,000 colleagues for their support in getting us to this point."

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