Christmas lights twinkle as local pubs join #KEEPTHELIGHTSON
The Christmas lights twinkled on Friday night as the majority of local publicans decked their premises with festive decorations as part of the nationwide campaign aimed at highlighting the struggle that publicans, bar-staff and their families are facing in order to keep the lights on. It was also a poignant reminder a time when the pubs would be bustling but the doors remained firmly shut and the town centre was all but deserted.
The #KEEPTHELIGHTSON sees the VFI, LVA, and Hospitality Ulster joining forces with Guinness Raising the Bar in a campaign that aims at highlighting the sector’s readiness for a safe reopening.
The prolonged closure of pubs due to COVID-19 enforced lockdowns serves as a physical reminder of the impact that COVID-19 has had not just on the pub-trade and wider hospitality industry but also on communities up and down the country.
The financial impact of COV
ID-19 pub closures has been hugely significant, with one third of pubs in Dublin having been closed continuously for the last 8 months and half of pubs throughout Ireland allowed to open for only two out of the last 37 weeks after enduring at least four delays to reopening over the course of the summer.
Padraig Cribben, Chief Executive of the VFI commented: ‘Pubs around Ireland have invested heavily in ensuring their outlets are ready to reopen safely. Whether it’s physical infrastructure such as PPE, Perspex screens and hand sanitiser or training for staff we know that they have done what’s necessary to ensure that pubs can reopen safely alongside other sectors such as retail. Now all that these locals around the country want is the chance to reopen safely on time for Christmas.’
The public are being asked to show their support for a safe reopening of their local by posting photos of their favourite pub lit up for Christmas alongside #KEEPTHELIGHTSON on social media.