BUSINESSES GET BACK TO WORK
THE management and staff in the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy are eagerly looking forward to welcoming customers back in through its doors this week.
Speaking to this newspaper Manager. Jim Maher, said a lot of work has taken place to get the hotel ready in keeping with all guidelines laid out by the Government and the HSE.
The restaurant will be laid out with one metre social distancing in place while the main bar will be reopened as a restaurant for three weeks and two metre social distancing will be in place there.
‘We are lucky because we have an enormous amount of space for the comfort and safety of our customers,’ said Jim.
‘It’s very important for us to ensure that our customers feel safe and relaxed,’ he added.
‘It’s also very important that our staff are also safe as well.’
Jim also said that protocols have been implemented too within the kitchen where staff will be wearing PPE such as masks.
‘Housekeeping would be the same,’ said Jim.
Bookings will be in place and everyone coming into the hotel will have to wait until they are seated.
‘Customers will be asked to name a nominated person and number for Covid-19 tracing in the event that needs to be done,’ said Jim.
Tables will be sanitised in keeping with Covid-19 protocols before any new customers can be seated.
Jim also said a one-way system will be in place with customers entering the hotel through the main front door and leaving through the exit of the Alamo restaurant.
‘We are very lucky to have the Seamus Rafter Suite to turn into an extension of the bar at two-metre distancing,’ he said.
Children will have to supervised by their parents at all times and will not be able to roam throughout the premises for obvious social distancing reasons.
‘ There are strict laws that we have to adhere to,’ said Jim.
The hotel is also hoping to attain the Irish Hotel Federation Covid-19 Charter status which will see all staff complete online training and passing an exam on Covid-19 protocols.
‘ This is new for everyone, for us and for our customers, but we are ready and can’t wait to welcome people back,’ said Jim.