Rockingham pub near Corby where diners can isolate in style in dome-from-home bubbles

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A pub near Corby has been welcoming hundreds of customers to its innovative al fresco dining area complete with geodesic domes festooned with fairy lights for a pandemic-friendly eating out experience.

The Sondes Arms in Rockingham took the step to transform its 16th Century courtyard into a space-age eating area with a raised deck and four transparent igloo-shaped rooms to socially distance guests in their own bubbles.

Guests can choose a dome for four or six and can be zipped in to enjoy their meal in see-through solitude.

Owner, Danielle Haynes , said: "We're now fully booked until September a the weekends, but we have availability during the weekdays.

"We've had a really good reaction from customers. At the moment two of the domes are for four people and the other two are for six people. We are hoping to get some larger tables to seat up to ten very soon."

Due to social distancing measures the pub's dining capacity has dropped by 40 seats but they are hoping to create further outdoor eating areas in their beer garden by installing another innovative idea.

Danielle said: "We are looking to buy some Swedish barbecue huts with a fire pit in the middle where customers can sit around."

Rebecca Savage, one of the staff inside the dome

To contact the pub call 01536 772193 or go to their website.

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