Pub owners gear up for reopening

Pub owners gear up for reopening

1 July 2020

LOCAL publicans, restaurant owners and hoteliers are gearing up for the great reopening.

From Friday hotels, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to begin trading again, as will pubs, providing they serve food and operate a table service.

Any pubs reopening that are not selling food will be allowed to serve alcohol in outside spaces, such as beer gardens, providing they operate a table service.

The move comes more than three months since the hospitality industry was forced to shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kevin Smyth, owner of The Primrose bar and restaurant in Ballynahinch, said staff and regular customers were looking forward to the reopening.

The Primrose has been operating a takeaway meals service during the lockdown, which has enabled Mr Smyth to retain five staff members, the remaining 18 being furloughed.

Mr Smyth said all staff are now back and getting used to radically new working conditions.

“We have had to make lots of changes,” Mr Smyth explained. “We have put social distancing measures in place for staff and customers. It’s like opening a new restaurant.

“I have spoken to all our staff members and they are all enthusiastic. Our customers are also excited, though I appreciate that some of them might be a little apprehensive.

“This is a new challenge for us and our customers. We will find out what the new normal is very quickly.”

Mr Smyth revealed that he was in South East Asia when reports of coronavirus first surfaced in January. In fact, he was due to stay in a hotel in Singapore where the original outbreak is believed to have occurred. Fortunately he stayed elsewhere.

“I was aware of the virus when I was there. Little did I know that it would follow me home and close my business,” he said.

Mr Smyth was also in America at the time of the 9/11 attacks in 2011. “That is the only catastrophe which I can compare to Covid,” he remarked.

Mr Smyth said he was overwhelmed by the support he received for his takeaway meals service during the lockdown.

“There was fantastic feedback from everyone,” he said. We made sure the food was available on time and that the customers did not have to wait. I would like to thank them all.”

At Murphy’s Bar and Restaurant in Downpatrick, publican Bartley Murphy says he is looking forward to welcoming back many familiar faces.

Mr Murphy said a number of measures have been put in place at Murphy’s, including new air conditioning and air filtration systems, as well as divides between the booths and extensive sanitary safeguards throughout the premises. A new beer garden has also been built.

Murphy’s has been operating a takeaway meals service for the past six weeks and Mr Murphy said this would continue post-lockdown.

“The numbers using our takeaway service have been phenomenal,” he said. “We are very grateful and we see this service continuing for some time.”

Mr Murphy said he was fortunate to have large premises, which ensured there was plenty of space for social distancing, but he emphasises that it was important to gain the confidence of the public in what he described as “very difficult times”.

He said Murphy’s would continue to support local charities and sporting organisations.

He said it was also important that the community as a whole should come together and support one another.

“Everyone is in the same boat and we need to support our local businesses. The people of Downpatrick should realise that if we do not support each other our town will suffer,” he added.