Wagamama reopening dozens of stores for delivery by June

But luckily the Saturday night takeaway tradition is one of the few aspects of normal life we have been able to keep hold of.

That being said, many restaurants have opted to close fully, one of those being popular Japanese chain Wagamama.

So many will be delighted to hear its Brighton restaurant will reopen for delivery and takeaway on Thursday as part of a national plan to reopen 67 stores by the end of June.

The Kensington Street restaurant will open for dinner service only from 4pm to 9.30pm on Wednesdays to Sundays.

Wagamama chief executive Emma Woods said this wider reopening is a bigger test run, having opened restaurants in London and Leeds previously to see if the delivery model worked.

“Over the past couple of months our focus has been on creating a safe working environment for our team members and our two-week trial has enabled our teams to return to work safely,” she said.

“The next logical step for us is to open additional sites throughout the UK, this will still very much form a test and learn approach for the business.

“The response of our return has been extremely positive and we look forward to our guests being able to get their Wagamama fix.”

Wagamama is gradually reintroducing delivery throughout the country

But the chain said it is being careful when it comes to reopening restaurants.

Staff will return to delivery work “at their own discretion”.

They will also have to fill out a health questionnaire before each shift to ensure they are fit.

“In a team environment like this it is vital that each team member is vigilant about any deterioration in their health, and that they do not come into work if they feel unwell in any way,” said health adviser Dr Kate Bunyan.

“There are key symptoms associated with COVID-19 but there are other more minor symptoms too and we don’t expect people to try to diagnose themselves.

“I have been working with Wagamama over the last few weeks to introduce new safety protocols, so their teams can feel safe, whilst providing the important service of food preparation for delivery

“These now include the mandatory use of health questionnaires before every shift, no contact with delivery riders and increased frequency of hygiene regimes.

“We are encouraging all those involved in the Wagamama operation to use the NHS 111 online service if they feel unwell.”

Half of Wagamama's restaurants are expected to open by the end of June

And for those Japanese food addicts who have gone without katsu curry for so long, Wagamama’s Wok From Home Facebook series has helped nourish the nation as more people cook at home.

“Since lockdown we launched our Wok From Home series where we saw the UK population cooking some of Wagamama’s most beloved dishes,” said chain chief Ms Woods.

“The series has had phenomenal success, already obtaining over to million views in the past six weeks.

“It’s brought a lot of joy to a lot of people and this is something that we will continue to evolve as we endure to create a sense of community.”