RESTAURANTS’ CURFEW ANGER
Owners say 11pm closing will lead to job losses
RESTAURANT owners around the country have said the new 11pm curfew is a ‘major insult’ to their sector and will risk tens of thousands of jobs.
From Monday, restaurants and pubs serving food will have to close at 11pm, a decision which has been described in the industry as ‘illogical’.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) is seeking an urgent meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in a desperate bid to reverse the new rule.
It believes the Government has cut more than an hour of trading time from already-struggling restaurants, which normally close at between midnight and 1am.
The RAI also believes the curfew will encourage people to flock to impromptu house parties.
John Healy, general manager at Suesey Street restaurant in Dublin, said of the new curfew: ‘It’s ridiculous and doesn’t make sense whatsoever.
‘The majority of restaurants are able to maintain social distancing so the chances of picking up Covid19 is very unlikely.
‘The Government’s announcement couldn’t have come at a worse time, especially since there’s very little footfall in Dublin city centre at the moment. I know Leo Varadkar doesn’t like putting labels on things, but what has been enforced is a curfew.
‘I would like to know why we must close at 11pm because there are usually very few people in restaurants at this time, leaving no one in danger. I couldn’t possibly see the harm in pushing the curfew to an extra 30 minutes.
‘Friday and Saturday are the only two nights that restaurants can push their revenue up a little, but now we’re going to find that extremely difficult.’
He went on: ‘When you look at the spread of this virus, it’s not coming from restaurants, but from large gatherings.
‘The vast majority of restaurants have been doing everything by the book, but now we’re being tarred with the one brush since a few cowboys had flouted the guidelines. It’s a major insult to us all.’
Rural restaurants have also described the new curfew as ‘ludicrous’.
Stéphane Magaud, proprietor and chef at French restaurant Montmartre in Sligo, said he got onto the Taoiseach’s department to ask ‘what scientific evidence they had’ to back up this new rule. ‘It seems totally ludicrous to think that closing your restaurant at 11pm will somehow reduce the chances of catching this virus,’ he told the Irish Daily Mail.
‘It’s much easier to follow all the health guidelines in a restaurant rather than a pub because customers are seated for the majority of their stay. What I don’t think the Government realises is the true impact that this new measure will have. People are going to lose their jobs and livelihoods over a curfew that doesn’t even make sense,’ he fumed.
Paul Regan, owner of Dillons Bar & Restaurant in Ballina, Co. Mayo, said he also can’t understand the reasoning behind the decision. ‘People come in and sit at a table, only getting up occasionally to go to the bathroom. And if social distancing can be observed, then what harm are they doing?’ he asked.
Mr Regan added that he believes restaurants have been punished by a minority of establishments that have flouted the guidelines.
‘There are one or two operators around us that have blatantly disobeyed the guidelines and it’s solely because of restaurants and pubs like them that we’ve all been punished,’ he said.
The popular Dublin restaurant where Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and partner Matthew Barrett enjoyed their first meal out after lockdown has also condemned the Government restrictions.
Las Tapas De Lola, on Wexford Street, said the move would see them lose a further 30% of business. They posted on Twitter:
‘It’s a major insult to us all’
‘Speechless – a new curve ball – just trying to survive & keep to law & guidelines – can we just get on with it?
‘Will have to rewrite diary & business as this will wipe a further 25/30% of our evening business as we lose a sitting (plus the 40% lost due to social distancing).’
However, not all restaurant proprietors feel hard done by.
Anthony Smith, chef and owner of Mr Fox on Parnell Square in Dublin, told the Mail he ‘fully supports’ the Government’s decision.
‘It’s simple – they don’t want people drinking in pubs after they’ve had their food,’ he said.
‘Closing at 11pm makes sense to me because we can’t have restaurants turning into pubs and large groups staying in the one premises for hours and hours.
‘It was a tough and very unpopular decision to make, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it in the end.’
Mr Smith said there are many options which will allow restaurants to adjust to the 11pm rule.
‘We don’t need to look at the Government to solve all our problems,’ he added. ‘If closing at 11pm is a big issue, then restaurants can simply change their opening hours. There are plenty of solutions, such as charging a premium for an 8pm table and less for 4pm tables. Many restaurants think the new rule will harm their business, but they just have to accept that they’re not going to have a normal business for a long time.’
Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, described the decision as bizarre and out of the blue, ahead of a requested meeting with Mr Martin to discuss the decision.
‘This new 11pm curfew is a body blow to the restaurant sector,’ he said. ‘Restaurants are now one of the safest social outlets in the country and by closing restaurants at 11pm, it will drive people to impromptu house parties.
‘The loss of an hour will be the difference to people making wrong decisions and will affect the economics of viable businesses.
Mr Cummins added: ‘This announcement will have a serious impact for staycation businesses in Ireland.’
‘It’s a body blow to the sector’