FAKE signs claiming Brecon’s Wetherspoon pub will not re-open again after the coronavirus lockdown has been lifted have been branded "pathetic."

A letter, claiming to be from pub chain owner Tim Martin, and a sign saying ’closed for good’ were taped to the front of the George Hotel recently.

The phoney note reads: "I would like to take this opportunity to apologise, without reservation, for the monster I have created: Wetherspoons.

"With the outbreak of coronavirus I have been given a chance to stop and actually think about what I have been doing.

"I have taken advantage of the vulnerable and the poor, selling cheap drink and low quality food from far too early in the morning until far too late at night in premises that are so generic they could be anywhere.

"In short, I have enabled alcoholism, total lack of self-care and all sorts of associated dysfunction on a massive scale for my own enrichment."

The letter added: "During lockdown I have begun to wind down the master that is Wetherspoons.

"I trust that by Christmas 2020 Britain will be free of it."

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon told the Brecon and Radnor Express this week: "The poster and letter are both fake.

"It is a pathetic attempt to mislead people. We have made it clear that we are investing in our pubs including our pub in Brecon to ensure it is safe for staff to work in and customers to visit once the government allows all pubs to reopen."

News of Wetherspoon’s dismissal of the letter and poster came just days after the pub chain revealed its post-lockdown plans for the George Hotel.

It was announced that Wetherspoon would be bringing a string of measures into force to help keep customers and staff safe.

Two full-time members of staff will be employed in every pub, slightly more for bigger pubs, who will regularly clean surfaces and touch points.

Screens will be used to create seating areas where it is not possible to separate the tables to social distancing requirements and screens will be put around the tills.

Wetherspoon will provide gloves, masks and protective eyewear.

Employees can elect whether to wear them or not, subject to government guidelines.

There will be an average ten hand sanitiser dispensers around the pub, including at the entrance for customers and staff to use.

Every employee will need to complete and sign a daily health assessment questionnaire to confirm that they are fit to work. This will include having their temperature taken using a digital thermometer.

Dedicated staff will monitor the pub at all times in order to maintain social distancing standards and there will be a member of staff on the door at peak times.

The pub will use one entrance with a separate exit door where possible.

The pub will have a member of staff working full time (two staff per pub to cover all opening hours) to sanitise all the contact points during opening hours.

Customers will be asked to use the Wetherspoon order and pay app, wherever possible, or pay at the bar using a credit/debit card and contactless, although cash will be accepted.

Staff will hand over all drinks holding the base of the glass and when ordered by the app they will be delivered to the table on a tray and placed on the table using the base of the glass.

Food will be delivered to the table by a member of floor staff.

The pub will also offer a slightly reduced menu and will provide sachets (ketchup, mayonnaise, salt pepper etc), rather than their usual condiment bottles.

It will be open its usual opening hours.

All staff will receive a full briefing and training on the new way of running the pub.

Joseph Davey, manager at The George Hotel, said: "At present the government have not confirmed any reopening date for pubs.

"However, it is important that we are prepared for any announcement.

"We have spent a number of weeks consulting with staff who work in our pubs, as well as area managers in order to draw up our plans.

"The safety of staff and customers is paramount."