Inside redesigned Wagamama’s as it prepares to reopen restaurants with new sliding screens and reduced menu

WAGAMAMA is set to reopen with a new look - and a reduced menu.

The Japanese-inspired chain has installed new sliding screens on tables to help protect customers.

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Wagamama ramen and salads are among 10 items temporarily axed from its menu.

It still has disposable place mats which have been updated to include the reduced menu options.

Customers won't be able to pay by cash, and instead have to use a pay on phone service via Wagamama's website.

Once you've finished your meal, you simply pay for it by using your table number.

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If you don't have a smartphone, you'll be able to pay by card, Wagamama told The Sun.

Wagamama's will reopen one restaurant for dine-in on Saturday, July 4, with three more to follow on Monday, July 6 - we've listed them below.

If the reopenings are successful, the restaurant chain plans to have 18 restaurants open by the end of July.

The restaurant chain then hopes to have reopened all 152 branches by early September.

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Wagamama closed all restaurants on March 23, although it was allowed to stay open for takeaway and delivery.

At the end of April, it then reopened four kitchens for delivery only.

A month later, it said it planned on having 67 restaurants open for delivery and takeaway by the end of June.

Chief executive Emma Woods said: "The main question we have been working on as a team is how can our guests feel safe but still have a communal wagamama experience, sitting on our benches.

"The team have applied our philosophy of kaizen - good change - to this challenge and I am delighted we have found a design solution which provides social distancing for our guests in a way which is true to the design ethos of the brand.

“We are looking forward to getting our guests back in and obtaining their feedback in the first 18 sites.

"If these tests go well, we will reopen the remainder of our restaurants throughout August and September."

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If you don't live near one of the newly reopened branches, Wagamama has launched a series of online cooking classes so you can make katsu curry from home.

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The announcement comes as McDonald's reopened 260 branches for walk-in takeaway last week.

The fast food chain is also adding six items back on to its menu next week – and 1,000 restaurants will serve breakfast.