RELAXED lockdown guidelines allowed food and drink to be served indoors - welcome news indeed for pub landlords and managers after all this rain.

The Carpenters Arms in South Marston has a busy week ahead as bookings come flooding in.

Manager Clare Shoesmith said: ""It was a challenge serving food while it was raining as we had to find lids to cover the meals and try not to slip while rushing around, which the customers found quite comical.

"We could seat 400 under the marquee and had 10 tables outside it. There was no heater so we offered blankets and hot water bottles when it got chilly.

"We were ready for this next step, we've spaced out tables indoors and the weekend is looking really busy. We're serving a mixture of British classics and vegetarian options."

The pub re-launched its Pub Desk offer, where customers who need to work but are fed up of working from home can sit at a table near a plugsocket and tick off their to-do list with a snack and unlimited tea or coffee.

She said: "It was popular when we introduced it last autumn so we brought it back, it's nice to have a change of scenery."