Northern Ireland

Perspex screens between tables among options for phased return of Northern Ireland pubs and bars

The scene on the deserted Waterloo Street in Derry city on St Patrick's Day. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
The scene on the deserted Waterloo Street in Derry city on St Patrick's Day. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin The scene on the deserted Waterloo Street in Derry city on St Patrick's Day. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

PUBS and bars are working on plans for a phased return in Northern Ireland, with perspex screens between tables among options under consideration.

Owners of licensed premises in the Republic are reeling from the "nightmare scenario" outlined by Health Minister Simon Harris that they may not fully re-open until a vaccine is found.

The wait for an effective and safe vaccine could push that return back to 2021, with Licensed Vintners Association CEO Donal O’Keeffe warning with such a delay "most pub businesses in this country will be out of business for good".

Hospitality Ulster said it is "optimistic" it will not come to that in the north, but acknowledges pubs and bars "were first hit and will be worst hit and slowest to come out of this".

"It depends on the business model," chief executive Colin Neill said.

"There are many pubs that look like restaurants and they will probably see the first introduction. The non-food pubs face the biggest challenge to try to do social distancing. It's going to be slow, it's not going to happen tomorrow."

He pointed out even pubs with a more restaurant-like set-up would only be looking at 50 per cent of their customers to allow social distancing rules to be applied.

"That wouldn't be sustainable, but at least it would be some staff back to work."

Breweries would also need three weeks before they would be ready to supply kegs and consumer confidence would be "key".

"To open too quickly we could see nobody going in," Mr Neill said.

"We will work with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to come up with guidelines to apply to different types of premises... We will do whatever the government tells us,"

It is preparing a `high level' paper which will be completed by Thursday, which will outline how all bars and pubs will be able to reopen and what support will be needed from government.

Among measures under consideration are perspex screens between tables.

Mr Neill said First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Secretary of State Brandon Lewis and Westminster ministers have been "available on the end of the phone".

"It is a very challenging situation and we would want things to move faster, but we speak regularly. We are working together to come out of this. Everybody is trying to do the right thing. Not all the best ideas are in the government.

"No one expects money for nothing, but this is about sustaining the hospitality industry which is over 60 per cent of tourism spend.

"It's also about the little rural pubs which play a big role in helping loneliness."