"It's about time" say Vintners, as date for pubs' reopening is revealed

The news today that all pubs are set to be allowed reopen on September 21 has been welcomed by Vintners' groups who said "it's about time".

Foods that do not serve food will have been closed for more than six months by the time the September 21 date comes around, after plans for an earlier reopening were deferred on several occasions.

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said 3,500 pubs across the country remain closed, and that this was impacting approximately 25,000 employees as well as their families.

The two groups noted that the Government was likely to force thousands of these pubs into defaulting on their mortgage should they have not been allowed to reopen, with the six month moratorium due to close at the end of September.

The banks had indicated to the Vintners' representative bodies that this moratorium could not be extended.

Under the reopening plans, the Government is to insist on strict guidelines, including table service only and an emphasis on social distancing.

"It’s about time this decision was made. We feel there was little justification for the Government to have repeatedly delayed the reopening," said LVA Chief Executive Donall O’Keeffe.

"If all pubs are following social distancing then they should all have had the opportunity to get their doors open long before now.

"The vast majority of pubs have acted incredibly responsibly during this crisis and the pubs still closed have taken a real hit for the good of public health.

"It is about time that this contribution was acknowledged by the Government. We look forward to raising a glass once these pubs do get to open their doors again after six long months."

Padraig Cribben, Chief Executive of the VFI said, "We have been marched up this hill several times before, however this will come as a real relief to the 3,500 pubs across Ireland who are still closed as well as their staff and all the families concerned.

"The Government have belatedly acknowledged that we need to live with this virus and that meant having the pubs reopened.

"The conditions facing these pubs will be tough once they reopen, having completely missed the summer tourist season. Strict guidelines are being put in place and their capacity will be severely impacted.

"The support package put forward by the Government was derisory and this financial reality facing the pubs who are still closed needs to be recognised in a meaningful way. However at least there is now a sliver of light after what has been a very dark six months," Mr Cribben concluded.