CLOSE THE DINER GAP TO ONE METRE

Restaurants say 2m rule will destroy the industry

‘I urge you to contact your TD or councillor’

AN award-winning chef has warned that the restaurant industry will not survive unless the social distancing regulation is reduced to one metre.

With a two-metre space between diners, it would only be financially viable for just 350 of the 3,500 restaurants in the country to reopen, it is claimed.

The shocking figure has been revealed by the Restaurants Association of Ireland, as Michelinstarred chef JP McMahon gave this dire warning: ‘It’s absolutely vital that we get one-metre distancing to open.

‘If we cannot get one metre it will be an absolute disaster – it will destroy our industry as we know it.’

His plea was backed by several restaurants around the country who fear for the very future of the industry itself.

With a one-metre rule, rather than two metres, restaurant owners can fit more tables and diners into their premises.

Under the Government’s reopening timetable to bring us out of lockdown, restaurants will not be allowed to welcome diners until June 29, which is nearly another four weeks of closed kitchens.

The country has been in lockdown since March 24 and many businesses in the industry are in fear for their future.

Restaurants Association of Ireland chief Adrian Cummins said: ‘We support this [one-metre distancing] 100%. We’ve been calling for this for the last number of weeks. The fear is that if it’s not reduced to one metre, many restaurants won’t be able to reopen.

‘There are 3,500 restaurants and 90% would not survive on a distance of two metres. They won’t be able to open. If it was one metre the [restaurant] survival rate would go up to 75%.

‘Many wouldn’t be able to survive because they’re too small. So we fully support what he’s saying.’ Mr McMahon, who runs fine-dining restaurants Aniar, Cava Bodega and Eat Gastropub in Galway city, made a public plea yesterday to the Government to cut the minimum distance between diners.

He also called on everyone in the hospitality sector to lobby their TDs and councillors, saying it was ‘vital’ for the survival of the industry. Fearing that his own restaurants will not be financially viable with a two-metre distance between diners, the chef said: ‘We still have no announcement on where the guidelines for restaurants or the hospitality sector will come out and whether or not the two metres will be reduced to one metre.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said yesterday guidance for the hospitality sector is being reviewed and the updated advice will be issued when it is ready.

Mr McMahon said: ‘I want to say if you own a restaurant, a café, a bar or even a shop, then I urge you to contact your local TDs or local councillors and ask them to put a word in for one metre.

‘It’s absolutely vital that we get one metre to open – if we cannot get

one metre it will be an absolute disaster, it will destroy our industry as we know it. With two metres I don’t even know if my own restaurant can open up, but with one we may have a chance.’

He added: ‘That’s not to say all restaurants will open but at least possibly 75% will be able to open.

‘I’ve talked to many restaurateurs and bar-owners and many of them are considering not opening at all until September, December, next March, because of this.’

Mr McMahon said his business will not survive on its take-away meals income and the Government’s Covid-19 wage subsidies.

He added: ‘The virus is no longer in the community, are we just to live like this forever?’ christian.mccashin@dailymail.ie