“I DON’T think pubs will last any longer if this is extended further” is what one publican told this newspaper as they waited for confirmation from the Northern Ireland Executive on whether bars, restaurants and cafés will reopen for indoor hospitality next week.

Today (Thursday) indoor hospitality will find out if they can officially open their doors next Monday, May 24.

The Impartial Reporter spoke to two bar owners to see how they will ensure the first sip of a perfect pint inside a pub will go.

Looking forward

Pat Blake, proprietor of Blakes of the Hollow, welcomed the move to reopen pubs and hospitality.

‘Wet pubs’ – public houses that do not have a beer garden or a kitchen –have been closed from the beginning of the pandemic in mid-March, 2020, briefly opening for a few weeks from September to October, and then closing until next week.

Mr. Blake said: “Wet pubs are looking forward to getting back into business after such a long period of inactivity. and welcoming customers.”

The Hollow has undergone extensive internal work, as Mr. Blake explained: “The only good thing is we have been able to do some extensive work internally on our property, given that there were issues to be addressed in terms of our structure [as a Listed building].”

At the time of interview, there was no guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive on whether or not pubs would need to have customers pre-book their table.

First-come, first-served

Speaking on this issue, Mr. Blake said: “At this moment in time, short of further advice and direction coming from the Executive, that’s [pre-booking] not going to be the case – there are already recommendations there in terms of the number of people who can sit at a table, in terms of a ‘bubble’, and it will be first-come, first-served every night of the week unless we receive an indication of the contrary.

“There may well be social distancing between tables, and there will be floor service only, and if that is the case, we will have to work around that and look forward to social distancing being a thing of the past.”

Across the street, Una Burns, of Charlie’s Bar, will be looking forward to taking up the mantle of manager of the family-run bar – a role that she took on in late 2020. Una is the third generation of Burns to run the bar.

Speaking on reopening, Una said: “We’re hopeful that the proposed date will stick. I think the Executive will want to reopen the businesses, and support business, because I don’t think pubs will last any longer if this is extended further.

“When we open again, it will be first-come, first-served so it is fair on everyone, but we will be keeping to regulations, and there will not be a time limit put on customers when they come in.

Storyteller or poet

Although it has a late licence, Charlie’s will not be able to have music as entertainment due to the current regulations from the Executive which ban live music, singing or dancing.

They do, however, allow a storyteller or a poet. Una explained: “You need to have some form of storyteller or poet every hour on the hour to stay open past 11pm.”

Una laughed as she added: “We have plenty of storytellers in the bar, but I’m not sure they meet the Executive’s criteria!”

Speaking of the interest on reopening, Una said: “People are keen to get back in and are so excited to get back in to the indoors. People come to us for the atmosphere. We are hoping people coming in just for their catch-ups will create a good atmosphere.”

All publicans, restaurateurs, and café owners will be keeping a good eye on the NI Executive this evening to see if their hopes for reopening next Monday, May 24, will finally be realised.