Customers and owners delighted pubs re-open

Customers and owners delighted pubs re-open

8 July 2020

PUBLICANS across the district have reported a positive return to opening their doors for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown.

Bars and restaurants were permitted to open for business last Friday by the Stormont Executive under strict conditions.

Customers were only allowed indoors provided they were dining and and non-diners who permitted to drink outside, both socially distanced to 1m between people.

After nearly four months of closure, the reopening was welcomed by publicans and customers alike.

Despite being hampered by heavy rain throughout the weekend, publicans reported a generally positive reception by customers experiencing the ‘new normal’ way of socialising.

However, several publicans claimed that full compliance to all the drinking regulations was patchy in some towns throughout the district. 

Stephen Magorrian, owner of Denvir’s Coaching Inn in Downpatrick, said while numbers of drinkers and diners were less than normal over the weekend, his customers appreciated the social distancing precautions and measures his team had put in place. 

“While it was probably quieter than I would have liked inside for dining, it was very well received by all our customers who were appreciative of how we had trained our staff and the measures we had in place,” said Mr Magorrian. 

“We had a lot of very positive comments from customers as they left which we are taking as a good sign. 

“Last weekend was really about making people feel safe in the hope that they will feel safe for customers and staff and be happy to return and word will spread that we are taking their safety seriously.”

He added that while his team had planned how to cope with larger than expected turnout of customers by hiring a door supervisor, “some other bars really went for it, like it was St Patrick’s Day”.

“We had no issues with any of our customers who were drinking outside and we were happy to welcome them back.”

Jack O’Hare, owner of O’Hare’s in Newcastle, said he had enjoyed a “busy weekend”.

“Customers were delighted to be back and so were our staff. It was very positive. While it wasn’t a massive rush, there was good, steady business,” he said.

“It was good to see our customers being very courteous to one another and everyone was very respectful to others.”

Declan McGonagle, from the Corner Inn in Crossgar, said: “The weekend went very well and I did food for the first time in a long time. 

“If all publicans operate within the regulations which are laid down, then pubs can get back to a new normal going forward, sooner rather than later.”

Stephen Jenish, who owns Curran’s Bar and Seafood Restaurant at Chapeltown near Ardglass, also reported a very good weekend and was particularly busy last Sunday. 

He said: “Numbers were down on normal but that’s maybe because some people are still afraid to come out and even put off by the fact that we might be too busy during the reopening.”

Mr Jenish said that his staff were all wearing the appropriate PPE and customers appreciated the precautions they took in sanitising everything after use, even menus, tables and chairs. 

He is hoping that dry weather this weekend will boost outdoor business.