Reopening of local hospitality sector gets underway

After a barren 2021 so far, the local hospitality sector is starting to return this week with hotels reopening to guests and some pubs and eateries commencing outdoor service from Monday next (June 7).

At Peadar's Bar in Moate Alan Conroy was busy getting ready for Monday, when the pub will serve its first customers since it had to close last October.

"I have a hard few days ahead, but we're getting there!" he told the Westmeath Independent.

"We had a big beer garden here anyway, but we've extended it and put in a covered (outdoor) area if it does rain. Once the weather is good, we should be flying it."

Although Peadar's adapted to the requirement for €9 meals to be served when it reopened last year, Alan was relieved that rule had now been dropped.

The pub will not be taking bookings when it reopens next week - instead people will be accommodated on a 'first come, first served' basis.

"I think with the fact that there's no time limit for outdoor, it would be too hard to control bookings.

"You could end up taking a booking and then having to turn people away, so I think the best thing is to do it on a walk-in basis for the time being and see how that goes," he said.

Hotels began reopening from Wednesday with Athlone's Shamrock Lodge, Sheraton, Hodson Bay, Athlone Springs, and Prince of Wales hotels all welcoming visitors again this week. The Creggan Court Hotel is planning to reopen for overnight stays from June 21.

In Glasson, the Wineport Lodge and Glasson Lakehouse hotels are reopening their doors this week.

As reported previously, Sean's Bar is reopening from Monday next, and a large canopy has been put in place outside The Bounty to facilitate outdoor service when it reopens the same day.

At another well-known Athlone pub, The Shack, proprietor Mark Claffey was awaiting the arrival of outdoor awnings that had been ordered from Switzerland.

When he was contacted earlier this week he said the arrival of this outdoor equipment, for an area in front of the pub, would determine whether he would be reopening next week or waiting until July.

"I've been told that I could have it (this week), but nothing's set in stone yet. If it's there I will be opening, and if not I won't be."

Mark said the public health restrictions coupled with the Government grant scheme for outdoor hospitality had resulted in a huge demand for outdoor equipment.

"A lot of this stuff is only made by about four companies in the whole of Europe, and it's generally in Austria, Germany and Switzerland that they make it."

At The Castle Inn in Athlone, John McDermott said he had made the decision not to reopen until July 5, when indoor service is due to be allowed.

"We have a little bit of space outside but it wouldn't be enough (to reopen), really, so for the sake of four weeks I thought I'd hang on until then," he said.

One issue which John and other publicans are facing is replacing former staff members who took up other jobs while the pubs were closed.

"More than 50% of the staff have gone on to other jobs, and won't be returning," he said.

"We are looking forward to getting back, and if we can line up a few staff we'll be happy out. We only have a few small jobs to do (on the premises)."

Thyme restaurant, at Custume Place, is also waiting for the return of indoor service, with the reopening there set for July 7.

A communal outdoor service area at Custume Place, in front of the neighbouring Thyme, Dead Centre Brewing, and Gertie Browne's premises had been mooted in April but John Coffey of Thyme concluded it wouldn't be viable for his business.

"I think Dead Centre are going to do something outdoors alright, but it wouldn't really suit what we do.

"It's a short period of time, just three or four weeks (until indoor service resumes) so it would cost a lot of money for something you wouldn't use that much," he said.

The Fatted Calf restaurant announced on social media that it's planning to reopen on July 7, while Nino Magliocco of the Coffee Haven cafe told us he was also working towards an early July date.

The Left Bank Bistro said it only had limited capacity for outdoor seating and, as a result it had decided to reopen with indoor service from July 6.

Ann Flannery of Flannery's pub on Sean Costello Street in Athlone was waiting until July because when she does reopen she wants the experience of coming to her pub to be as close as possible to what it was pre-pandemic.

"There are only a few pubs left (like Flannery's) where there's no TV and you can just drop in for a pint, and that's the way I'd like it to be again," she said.

"Obviously will be some 'red tape', because of the situation, but in another three or four weeks there will be more people vaccinated by then as well.

"It's a learning curve for everyone, but as soon as we get the go-ahead for inside (service) we'll be opening. Onwards and upwards!" she said.