A NEW pop-up bar has been launched in Salisbury to encourage people back into the city.

Salisbury City Garden is located in the Guildhall Square and opens from 10am until 10pm every day.

It is being spearheaded by Aimee and Dave Hancock, who run Tinga, Deacons and Caboose in Salisbury.

Aimee said: "It is a regeneration and recovery event put on by a collective of local businesses to try and bring a bit of vibrancy to the city centre."

Salisbury Journal:

"We just want to show people that us Indies and local businesses are practising Covid secure processes and it is okay to come out. It is safe out here. We just want to try and offer something a bit different and get people back into the city and spending some money and keeping local businesses alive," she added.

A wide selection of drinks are available from the bar, including a weekly changing local real ale.

There will be food from local traders, Gourmet Farm and Ben Jammins.

"We opened at 10am and it's been non-stop," said Aimee. It's going really well. We've had positive feedback so far from everybody."

Aimee hopes that it will also encourage customers to see what else the city has to offer and support local businesses who have lost trade due to the coronvirus pandemic.

"Hopefully it will benefit everyone in the city," she said. "We just felt the city had lost a bit of its pizzazz obviously with everyone being in lockdown so we wanted to bring something that would bring the energy back to the city. The Guildhall Square is just the perfect space for events as we've seen when the council have done the Christmas market. We know this is a really good spot for people to gather.

"We just thought something had to be done to jump start the buzz within the city centre."

Covid-19 procedures are in place. Everyone is asked to wait outside until they are seated. Customers are served at their table so their is no queuing at the bars. There is also hand sanitiser and staff are wearing masks. Tables and areas are regularly cleaned.

All drinks orders are done through a QR code so there are no menus or cash. And there is a one-way system in place for the food.

Salisbury City Garden will be running until September 13.