Why hasn’t Reynolds Bar been open?
As most of you may be aware, Reynolds bar has been closed due to COVID-19 since March 2020; we have been wanting to open the bar sooner, but unfortunately due to Reynolds’ layout and the fact that it is an indoor venue only, we haven’t been able to yet.
But, we have some good news…
We are now preparing for Reynolds to re-open (following the latest government restrictions) from Wednesday 19th May 2021, provided the government does not make any changes to their current stage 3 timeline. We’re really looking forward to seeing Medical students back in the bar as we know it’s not been a great year for you all, but you deserve to have your bar back and open as soon as possible, and that’s why we’ve worked so hard to get it ready for you!
So, how will the bar work?
Opening Times
Our opening schedule will be every Wednesday and Friday from 5pm until 11pm, with last orders being taken at 10.30pm. We will be operating seated table service for groups of 6 maximum.
How do I order?
For those of you that haven’t been around 568 since it’s reopened, we have a mobile ordering portal where you can order your drinks and snacks to the table you’re at. It has worked brilliantly at 568, increasing service speed, so you’re not left waiting for your drinks for too long! We will not be facilitating orders from the bar, so you must use the portal and there will be QR codes readily available to direct you there. Feel free to sneak a preview at https://fivesixeight.mobo2go.co.uk/, or come join as at 568 before we re-open!
Will I get a table?
Currently, we have space for ~100 people within both the bar and café area, ensuring appropriate social distancing between tables. We will not be taking table bookings for the bar, so we will be operating on a first-come first-serve basis.
Will you be serving food? If not, can I order a food delivery?
Sadly, we will not be serving hot food at Reynolds bar, but we will be serving a large selection of snacks to get you through the night! If you want to have some hot food delivered to the bar, then feel free!
Will you be running any events?
We have been working very closely with the rest of the ICSMSU Exec and with the Venues team to plan some events for the end of term, which we will be releasing more details about over the coming weeks.
What are the rules?
Do...
- Use the mobile ordering portal
- Register with NHS Track & Trace
- Wear a face mask whenever you're not seated
- Get food delivered
- Have fun
Do not...
- Move tables or chairs – if you need to then please speak to a member of staff
- Swap tables – you must stay with the max 5 other people on your table
- Have more than 6 people on your table
- Try to pre-book a table - unless a specific event states you can
We’re refurbishing Reynolds Bar and Café!
Those of you who have been around for a while will be aware of the many consultations and discussions that have been held on our Reynolds Bar throughout the years.
We have been able to successfully secure a large investment from College which will finally allow us to put your ideas and suggestions into action and undertake a full refurbishment of both the bar and café spaces.
The planning for this project has already started, we’ve already held its Kick-off meeting which included key representatives from both ICU and ICSMSU. We hope to follow up on promises to create an effective, inclusive social space by day which can be quickly transformed into a flexible multipurpose events space by night, and deliver a better catering provision that caters to the needs and timings of clinical year medics.
This project will be a culmination of all our previous consultations on the Reynolds Bar, which will form the basis of this work. We are also aware there are other prospective projects within the Reynolds Building, including student shapers and the Faculty’s developments arising from the St Mary’s sale. The Reynolds bar is a Union-owned space and so this project will be our priority, but we hope to ensure our work complements the other developments taking place too.
We want to share as much detail as we can as conversations progress, but in the meantime if you would like to discuss this project further, please email icsm.president@imperial.ac.uk.
We hope you and your families continue to stay safe. If you have any questions, then please get in contact with us!
Sam & Muntaha
Deputy President (Finance & Services) & ICSMSU President