Rule flouters will ruin it for us all, says pub owner

IT’S not a flashy, trendy bar. It’s not a bar that serves food. It’s not going to draw hundreds to party nights with the clientele downing expensive cocktails. But, most importantly, it’s not open.

Dan’s Bar on the Springfield Road in Belfast is family-run, serving those in the local community who like a quiet pint and a chat.

It’s similar to many establishments here that have been left on the shelf while others have reopened.

Owner Gerard Keenan, who had hoped to raise the shutters two weeks ago and is still planning to do so on September 1, in line with Government guidelines, fears the doors could remain firmly shut unless the industry behaves for the good of all concerned.

“I understand that people are desperate to make a living, but the truth is that establishments finding ways to flout restrictions are going to ruin it for everyone,” he said.

“Common sense has to prevail, but bars that are flouting the restrictions are destroying any confidence people have that we are able to make our pubs a safe place for people to come in to.”

While mentioning no names, he told how a pub not far from his own had already suffered the consequences.

“There’s one bar that opened. It doesn’t serve food, but went ahead and reopened. Within a week there were five cases of Covid-19. A week later there were 12. It’s shut again. Is that what we really want to see happening? Believe me, I was tempted to open myself for a while. There are bars who have never served food who are suddenly finding a way.

“I’d love more than anything else to get the business back up and running, I have a family of six and I need to look after them, but not by exposing them to risk like that.

“We need to be grown-up about this. What happened last time can happen again, and none of us want that.”

And while the industry is calling for more financial support if the deadline of September 1 slips again, Gerard is concerned that some who have been flouting restrictions will benefit as much as those who have remained shut.

“There needs to be a way of making sure those who have abided by regulations are the ones to benefit,” he went on.

“I know those who have kept their doors shut will be furious if others who bent the rules and opened their doors despite never having served food before benefit as well.

”It should be simple to monitor which businesses have been ordering from suppliers and operating while not abiding by the restrictions.

“I’m scared I will not be able to meet my bills. We will need assistance and that needs to be focused on the businesses who have done all they can to keep their customers safe.”