‘People dining outside is here to stay. It’s special’
SOME restaurateurs have complained about the difficulties of outdoor dining but according to the owner of one restaurant, Irish diners have been converted to the charms of al fresco dining.
And despite the country’s notoriously uncertain weather, the owner of Hugo’s restaurant, Gina Murphy, is still predicting that long after the pandemic is over outdoor dining will retain a permanent spot on restaurant menus here.
The city centre proprietor explained: ‘Our restaurant is on Merrion Row in Dublin and outdoor dining has changed completely the face and the pace of the street.
‘It’s become very special here… people used to walk down the street focused on where they were going but now everyone is strolling down the street. The atmosphere is electric. I think outdoor dining is here to stay.
‘The Irish rugby team passed along the street on their team bus on their way to the match and everyone sitting at the various places like here, O’Donoghue’s, and Bang restaurant, raised their glasses and cheered them. It was just gorgeous and the team waved back at us.
‘And when indoor dining comes back I don’t think there will be any problem with indoor dining because that’s what we have been doing all our lives.
‘When everyone is vaccinated I can’t see any problems with social distancing because people won’t have to social distance.’
Under a plan to allow cafés, pubs and restaurants to serve customers indoors, children and teenagers will be able to sit inside if they are at a table with someone who has been vaccinated.
And those who have contracted and recovered from Covid will also be able to dine and drink indoors.
Details are still being worked on as to how hotels will be able to serve people who are not guests. Since last month hotels have been allowed to serve meals indoors to those staying overnight and can only provide outdoor dining to non-guests.
Meanwhile, the Government is hopeful that indoor dining will resume later this month and on Tuesday the Cabinet will decide on how it will work.
New laws will be presented to the Coalition and if they all agree, the legislation will then go to the Dáil and the Seanad for approval.