Beer we go for a safe pint in pub
»»Owner says he will reopen on »»Bulmers and Magners makers June 29 despite not selling food reveal €7million a month losses Frankly I’ve had enough... it’s time we all got back to work
A PUB owner is insisting he will open on June 29 despite the fact he does not sell food.
John Harney, who runs Harney’s Final Furlong in the village of Ballyclerihan near Clonmel, Co Tipperary, is confident he can implement safe social distancing measures.
The bookmaker turned publican suffered a heart attack four weeks ago and is now in the category of having an underlying health condition.
His son James, who also works in the bar part-time, had a heart transplant as a child and is immunosuppressed, placing him in that category too.
John, 63, said: “You can be sure it is in all our interests to open the pub in a manner that is safe for our customers and our family.
“We will open on June 29 and offer a service equally as safe as any pub restaurant in the country that will open on that date also.
“I encourage any publicans who are confident they can open safely and implement appropriate social distancing measures to open also.”
Pubs nationwide are not due to open until August 10 when the last phase of the lockdown is expected to be lifted.
But many have applied for food licences so they can open sooner as restaurants.
John and his wife Siobhan revamped and opened their business in July 2018. It has been closed since March 15.
He added: “I have adhered to all the advice personally, 2km, 5km etc. I cancelled all live music and parties at the pub prior to the mandatory closing in the early stages of the pandemic.
“However, I feel the proposed reopening guidelines are completely unjust. My pub is bigger than many of the restaurants nationwide that are set to open on June 29.
“We are happy that we can implement social distancing and provide a safe service to our customers and I cannot fathom how the guidelines are industryspecific rather than venue appropriate.
“I have been in business all my life and it simply makes no sense at all and quite frankly I’ve had enough.
“The people of this country have done an amazing job and flattened the curve and it’s time we all got back to work and embrace this new normal.
“Harney’s Final Furlong is more than capable of opening and serving our loyal customers in a safe manner with ample indoor space and outdoor seating facilities.”
Meanwhile, the makers of Bulmers and Magners are losing €7million a month. C&C revealed this is taking into account around €5million a month in support for furloughed employees, with around 70% of staff retained under these schemes.
The company said it is instead focusing efforts on switching to sales through retailers and offlicences in the so-called off-trade market.
Total sales volumes of Bulmers Irish Cider have tumbled 16% in the past two months, though offtrade soared 62%. Magners in Britain slumped 7% in April and May, but it enjoyed a 25% surge in the off-trade.
C&C Group interim executive chairman Stewart Gilliland said: “An emerging trend from this shutdown has been an immediate shift in consumption dynamics, resulting in increased demand in the off-trade channel.”
JOHN HARNEY
CO TIPPERARY YESTERDAY