‘It’s difficult and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel’
PUBLICANS in North Wexford are slowly coming to terms with the possibility that they may not open their doors for the summer months which is usually the busiest time for the trade.
Jim French of the iconic French’s pub on Gorey’s Main street said this turn of events is very worrying for the whole trade.
‘It’s difficult and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for the pubs, it could change the trade forever as a lot of pubs won’t open again. I have thought about my own business coping, but there’s no pub in Gorey that would be easily to able to practise social distancing.
‘It’s hard to have any confidence in things improving but there’s not very much we can do in the short term. We have our fingers crossed that some events might go ahead, such as the charity busking day but the whole thing is very depressing for our trade,’ he said.
Sean Doyle has a number of large premises in the North Wexford area, from Gorey’s the Coach House, The ‘64, to the Upton Court Hotel in Kilmuckridge.
Mr Doyle is trying to plan ahead on what can be facilitated in each premises.
‘We see that the food operations would open up first with social distancing, tables will have to be spaced further apart but we can do that at most of our venues and we’ll be happy to cooperate.
‘We will probably start off then that you can have drinks with your food, and base that around when you’re out for food you can order drinks. It’ll be gradual, but we’re hoping we will lastly go back to normal. We’re lucky enough that we’re well established so we can weather storms like these but it’s a waiting game, other companies aren’t quite as prepared,’ he said.
Sean imagines that how people go out socialising will change after restrictions are lifted.
‘Socialising is now done later at night, but I think it’ll have to be spaced out with people coming out earlier to allow more space. We hope that similar business will be done
‘All hands are tied as everyone is in the same boat, everybody was hit with very little notice. Thankfully the suppliers and larger drink companies have agreed to take back all stock, so we’ll start with fresh stock. Customers are going to want to see that’.
Michael Gleeson of the Loch Garman Arms and local rep of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said that he sees that pubs will be the last service outlets to open once restrictions ease.
‘Unfortunately once people consume alcohol, they loosen their inhibitions and with social distancing, it’s a tricky one. It’s hard to see the pubs being open again before the end of the summer unless there’s radical changes.
‘It is going to be very tough for pubs, the longer they’re closed is the fewer that will reopen. A lot of pubs nowadays are leased which makes it more difficult.
‘Thankfully most of the suppliers have been very understanding, they’re taking stock back and haven’t yet processed payments. Wholesalers aren’t putting pressure, and there’s talk that as long as the closure is going on that the rates will not being accumulated. Realistically, if we do get back open we are not going to be in a position to pay rates. I paid my insurance, it’s a sizeable chunk of money but I’m not getting value for money at the moment and a lot of them are not playing ball with us. It’s frustrating’.
Michael said that the hardest thing for publicans is the uncertainty. ‘If we hate an opening date, you can start to budget and plan but we can’t do that. Unfortunately the boat is getting backed. The VFI have been very good, we get daily updates via email as to what’s happening which is valuable information. Throughout this, we have to keep the building going, we are still going our regular checks on beer lines, kegs and other stock’.