Chief Minister Howard Quayle has given the go-ahead for people to return to pubs from June 15, provided they have a substantial meal and use table service.

The change was one of a raft of measures announced by Mr Quayle as he signalled the next steps as the island moves towards what he called ’the new Manx normal’.

Starting on June 15, cafes, restaurants and pubs will be able to sit diners indoors and outdoors to serve food and drink.

This does not mean that residents are able to head to the pubs for a drink.

Mr Quayle indicated he still hopes that the Council of Ministers will be able to allow this from the end of this month.

Mr Quayle said: ’June 15 will be a key day for our island. We agreed that we are still on track to change our advice on social distancing.

’We cannot remove the need for social distancing completely, I think it will be part of our lives for some time to come.’

From this date, it is hoped that the island will be able to move to the World Health Organisation’s prescribed one-metre distancing.

He added: ’On pubs, I have mentioned before that we are looking to remove the restrictions on June 29. This remains the case at the moment. But from June 15, as an interim step, we are ready for pubs to open in the same way as restaurants.

’They can open for seated service, indoors and out, where there is a substantive meal served... In essence, for the moment, they need to be serving a proper seated meal, with drinks as part of that if you wish, it needs to be food driven.’

However, bars and clubs will not be allowed to open just yet as the Chief Minister said officials still need to be able to perform tracing quickly in the event of new cases of Covid-19.

The position on cinemas and theatres will remain under review, but the curtains will not be able to come up just yet.

From June 15, people will also be able to meet outside in groups of up to 30 rather than the current 10. The restriction for indoors remains two from different households.

Mr Quayle also gave gyms the green light to open, with some restrictions in place from that date.

Saunas and steam rooms will remain closed and precautions will need to be in place around more strenuous equipment such as treadmills.

With the island’s schools due to re-open to some pupils from June 17, Mr Quayle said that attendance will be voluntary for the rest of the school year.

Addressing parents and carers, he said: ’We want you to be ready, and comfortable, with the decision. If you haven’t already, contact your head teacher to see how this will affect you and your children.’

Meanwhile, Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford has outlined a change in policy for visitors to Noble’s Hospital and his department’s care homes.

Mr Ashford said: ’That policy has now been updated, where in certain circumstance we will allow visiting.’

He added: ’We are going to allow two essential visitors in exceptional circumstances.

’Exceptional circumstances would be things like end of life care on compassionate grounds and it would have to be the same people for any subsequent or agreed visits.’

And one ’essential’ visitor will be able to visit non-Covid patients on wards.

There is no change in visitor policy to the maternity ward.

Mr Ashford said this ’will remain under review’.