The reopening of pubs that do not serve food in Northern Ireland, or so-called "wet pubs", has been pushed back two days to September 23.
It was previously announced that Northern Ireland's "wet pubs" would be permitted to reopen on September 21, however, the reopening date has been changed to September 23 to enable new health and safety regulations for the hospitality sector to be implemented.
List Of Regulations
According to Tourism NI, the new regulations include:
- a requirement for every venue to identify the number of people who can safely be accommodated in line with social distancing requirements, and every venue must clearly display this figure on the premises;
- a requirement for hand sanitisation stations to be in place;
- a requirement to collect customer details to assist with the Test, Trace, Protect contact tracing programme;
- compulsory table service at all venues;
- a ban on standing and service at the bar;
- a requirement for customers to remain seated unless they are using the toilet;
- a ban on dancing;
- a requirement to ensure that no more than six people from any number of households are seated at a table in a hospitality venue, however, children aged 12 and under will be discounted from the total, and more than six people will be permitted at a table if they all belong to a single household;
- and a requirement for face coverings to be worn when entering and leaving venues and for movement inside.
The regulations will apply to any venue serving alcohol or where alcohol can be brought in and consumed by customers.
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
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