Publicans have asked that all pubs “including traditional ones” be allowed to offer outdoor service when safe

Publicans have asked that all hospitality businesses, including traditional pubs be allowed to offer outdoor service, once it is safe to do so.

Pubs that don’t serve food, widely referred to as “traditional” or “wet pubs” have remained closed since March of last year, while those that do offer a dining option have been permitted to open at various points throughout the pandemic.

All hospitality businesses have been shut since late-December and will remain closed until Level 5 restrictions expire. That date is currently set at March 5 but An Taoiseach Micheál Martin suggested this morning that these stringent measures could remain in place until the Easter period at least.

Easter Sunday falls on April 4 this year, meaning it is likely that the hospitality industry faces another six weeks of closure at least. This morning, the Licensed Vintners Association met with the Department of Tourism and Fáilte Ireland and have issued an update to say that they “stressed that all hospitality businesses, including traditional pubs, should have opportunity to offer outdoor service when it is safe to do so.”

On a call with Dept of Tourism & @Failte_Ireland the LVA stressed that all hospitality businesses, incl traditional pubs, should have opportunity to offer outdoor service when it is safe to do so.

— LVA (@LVADublinPubs) February 11, 2021

Last month, Professor Luke O’Neill of Trinity College predicted that “we’ll be back in beer gardens with friends in June and indoor pubs towards the autumn but we’ll have one more summer holidaying in Ireland.”

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