Restaurant and gastro-pub owners have been the focus of a frantic scramble for bookings as families and couples are desperate to resume normal life. Local councils and Fáilte Ireland have helped fund the development of outdoor hospitality facilities nationwide but officials admitted that capacity will fall short of likely demand, particularly at weekends, until indoor dining resumes next month. By April 25, the decline of seated dining bookings compared to 2019 was at 99.75pc. Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) chief executive Adrian Cummins again hit out at the delay in the reopening of indoor dining. Cork vintner Michael O’Donovan operates a so-called ‘wet’ pub with no outdoor service capacity.

Source: Irish Independent June 08, 2021 01:31 UTC