According to research by Scottish digital start-up Stampede, there were approximately 790 pubs Northern Ireland as of March of this year, meaning that there were approximately five additional pubs in Northern Ireland compared to the year before.
The Belfast Telegraph quotes Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill as saying in response to the data, "The pub sector is not without its challenges, but local pubs have risen to that challenge and have reinvented themselves, benefitting from focussing on things like their food offering or the popularity of gin."
"Positive And Upbeat For 2020"
Meanwhile, head of pubs and hotels at GVA NI Property Consultants Gavin Weir stated, "I strongly suspect that the five new pubs are actually an increase within a hotel like a front-facing pub, or operators reinventing an existing venue as new licences aren't given out in Northern Ireland.
"Our licensing law complicates things, so it is hard to gauge what the five additional pubs are, but, generally speaking, you must surrender an existing licence to open a new venue."
However, Weir added, "The market is good and I am positive and upbeat for 2020."
© 2019 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
