Northern Ireland

Call for pragmatism as growing number of hospitality venues cancel reopening plans

The Sunflower beer garden during the Belfast Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival prior to the pandemic.
The Sunflower beer garden during the Belfast Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival prior to the pandemic. The Sunflower beer garden during the Belfast Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival prior to the pandemic.

THE Executive and councils are being urged to show more pragmatism as a growing number of hospitality venues have said they can no longer reopen for outdoor service on Friday.

The Department of Health confirmed last night that the rule of thumb being adopted is that outdoor hospitality areas must not be more than 50 per cent enclosed.

Although drafted by the executive, enforcement of the regulations has been left with councils.

But the hospitality industry last night said officials were showing little or no pragmatism in their approach.

One of Belfast’s best known pubs The Sunflower said it can no longer reopen tomorrow because its outdoor area has four walls.

The well-known Union Street venue said even it removed two walls, the guidance from officials prevents the pub putting up parasols or rolling out awnings in its extensive beer garden.

Belfast restauranteur Bob McCoubrey of Mourne Seafood said he has been instructed to remove a side panel from his £25,000 outdoor area. He said its result will be a wind tunnel effect.

Mr McCoubrey said the setup was the same he had deployed last summer.

Mourne Seafood's outdoor dining area on Bank Street last summer.
Mourne Seafood's outdoor dining area on Bank Street last summer. Mourne Seafood's outdoor dining area on Bank Street last summer.

Hospitality Ulster warned last night that the even fewer businesses are now expected to reopen tomorrow.

Chief executive Colin Neill said months of The Executive Office refusing to engage with the industry had resulted in “chaos” across the sector.

It’s understood the new guidance on the restrictions was published just seven days ago.

READ MORE: Executive guidance on outdoor dining 'has caused chaos' - Hospitality Ulster

READ MORE: Pubs and bars warned not to take ‘unnecessary' risks when reopening this week

“In reality, the idea of outdoor being opened again is meaningless if only a relatively small number of venues can actually make it work,” said Mr Neill.

“Many will have prepared for reopening by buying thousands of pounds worth of stock to replenish their empty bars, only to be told that their set up does not meet the regulations, despite being open to the same standard in previous failed reopening phases.

“This is not the time to be playing with the livelihoods of business owners and we are demanding that the executive intervenes and remedies this.”

But in a statement last night, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said all outdoor dining areas would be treated the same as smoking areas.

“The general rule of thumb is that outdoor premises should not be more than 50 per cent enclosed.

“The Covid-19 virus is still circulating in our community and the regulations are necessary to protect customers and staff. Outdoors is much safer than indoors.”

Belfast City Council also defended the approach of its officials yesterday, affirming that they have a statutory obligation to ensure the compliance with the regulations.

In a statement, it said: “While we very much welcome the easing of restrictions which will allow licensed and unlicensed premises to reopen, council has a statutory obligation to ensure compliance within the coronavirus restrictions, set by the NI Executive.”

Health Minister Robin Swann expressed disappointment over the confusion with regards out door space.

He said: “I have seen today the comments from the hospitality sector as regards confusion about outdoor spaces. This is hugely disappointing. Recognising what colleagues in that sector have been through, I ensured that - in our regulations - there was no change to the position from that which applied last year. This was to ensure that as we moved into a controlled and phased reopening, there would be clarity and certainty as regards that position.

“For my part, this is a key part of facilitating the hospitality sector to open in a safe and controlled way - as much as the sector must be clear about how they are to operate, customers and staff must be sure that this is by reference to a stable and robust position. This is an important part of ensuring customer confidence. There is no point in the sector opening if customers are not prepared to use it, and know they can do so in a safe way.

“I would make a plea to colleagues in local government, supported by TEO as necessary, to move quickly to engage with the sector, explain the position and find solutions - by reference to material that has been available since last year, and which is consistent with other parts of the UK.”