Ten stores will be reopened near to vital London hospitals.
Pret were doing excellent things for NHS staff before lockdown forced their closure – like the free drinks and half-price food they were offering hospital workers – but they’re making a return to town tomorrow (April 16) for an excellent reason. Ten branches of the nationwide chain will reopen next to key London hospitals, in order to furnish hardworking NHS staff with sarnies and cookies aplenty.
Stores near to the likes of University College Hospital, St George’s Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, and Royal Brompton Hospital are reopening (you can find the full list here). The chain will be taking plenty of social distancing precautions in order to run the branches; 160 staff have volunteered to return and staff the stores, two-metre spacing will be employed both in front and behind the counter, and the stores will open from 8am-2pm only. Anything purchased in store will be for takeaway or delivery – they’ll be no in-store dining making a return.
Handily, the NHS discount of 50% off all items will return for at least the duration of April, and NHS staff won’t be the only ones to benefit from the reopened stores. Pret have committed to making 7,000 extra meals a week, which will then be donated to the brand’s homeless charity partners. As comebacks go, this is one for the ages!