En Seine for nightclubs as reopening hopes hit
NIGHTCLUBS are crying out for clarity over the reopening of their businesses next week after the Taoiseach cast doubt on Freedom Day.
By next weekend nightclubs will have been shut for 585 days.
David Murray, general manager at Cafe en Seine on Dublin’s Dawson Street, said the Government was “kite-flying at the last minute”.
He said: “It’s really upsetting for everyone because you just don’t know where you stand.
“You’re trying to up your orders, you’re booking DJs, you’re booking cleaners, we’ve been hiring staff as much as we can for this increase in business and now you don’t know can you pull the trigger
and up your orders or publish rosters.”
Big Covid case numbers in recent days were a “matter of concern”, the Taoiseach said.
The Cabinet is to hear advice from NPHET on Monday, with a Government announcement expected on Tuesday.
Late
Mr Murray added: “Next Tuesday’s just too late again to know what you’re doing on a Friday night.
“The amount of bookings we’re getting, be it corporate, birthday parties, all these kind of occasions that think they can now come in in groups bigger than six, if I had to wait til next Tuesday night to call them all back and cancel them, it’s just not fair on anyone.”
Cafe en Seine can hold 1,100 people but is currently operating at 300 seated customers.
Hiring staff is a “huge battle” across the industry, Mr Murray said.
He added: “There’s a lot of unknowns still coming our way and when you get the uncertainty of ‘ is it going to happen or not’ it’s just adding to everyone’s stress levels.
“Particularly when you’re trying to hire people to come back to work and they’re hearing stories like ‘oh it might not be happening’.
“It’s not giving any confidence to people that it’s a safe industry to work in right now.
Notice
“All we’re asking for is a little bit more notice or some so bit of guidance as to what they’re thinking because be it’s people’s livelihoods.” liv
Luke L Thomson, a barman m at Opium nightclub on Wexford Street in Dublin D agreed the fresh doubt do was “ominous” and an could set them back.
He H said: “No one can really re anticipate what’s going go to happen.