Substantial meals for €9 and 90-minute stays among new pub guidelines

Serving substantial meals which should reasonably cost no less than €9 is among the conditions which should be met for pubs to reopen on June 29.

The guidelines are set to be issued by Fáilte Ireland and a substantial meal will be defined by the Liquor Act 1962 which says that ‘it would be of a kind that might be expected to be served as a main midday or evening meal or as a main course in either such meal.’

As well as that, the two-metre physical distancing rule could be reduced to just one metre on the condition that pubs limit patrons’ stay on the premises to just 90 minutes. Customers will also have to pre-book before visiting.

The Irish Independent quotes Fáilte Ireland as saying it will provide ‘detailed guidance aimed at the safe reopening of food service businesses, including pubs that serve food in the coming days’.

Pubs were initially not due to reopen until the beginning of phase five of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions on August 10 but it now looks like this will be brought forward to phase 3 which is due to start on June 29.

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