A PUB landlord whose expensive outdoor dining pods were shut down for no longer being Covid-safe said it is ‘great’ to be able to use them again.

Nicholas Crawford, who runs The Spread Eagle pub on Northcourt Road in Abingdon, was 'gutted' after his expensive outdoor dining pods were shut down by the Vale of the White Horse council for not complying with new Covid regulations - despite being able to use them previously.

The pods, however, were back in business yesterday after restrictions on indoor dining were lifted.

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Mr Crawford said: “It is great to have people allowed back inside the building although a little strange seeing them as it has only been staff for the last month or so.

“It is so good having life back inside with laughter and chat; seeing people laughing with each other is great.”

The pods were closed in April as the council said the outdoor pods did not meet the requirement to be open to 50 per cent of the air.

Read more: Pub landlord 'gutted' after £60k dining pods shut down

He added: “We kept the marquees too and made them into takeaway tents to help other local businesses where people can drink our beers whilst having a meal from a local takeaway restaurant."

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