The owner of Galway's Michelin star Aniar restaurant, JP McMahon, has said that the venue will remain closed until March of 2021 at the earliest due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and related operational restrictions.
Talking to The Irish Times' "Inside Business" podcast, McMahon said, "We have ultimately decided not to open until March 31st, 2021. That's the official date I've given to Michelin. Whether that changes, I don’t know yet."
Cava Bodega And Tartare Café + Wine Bar
However, McMahon has reopened his Cava Bodega and Tartare Café + Wine Bar restaurants, both of which are also in Galway.
Speaking about those restaurants, McMahon told "Inside Business", "We're probably about 10 or 15% down in Cava.
"Tartare was different because it was only 24 or 28 seats and we’ve lost nearly 50% of the café/wine bar, so it's a little difficult. If the wage subsidy was to stop, Tartare would be instantly unviable."
"Precarious"
McMahon said that business is "precarious" due to the possibility of additional COVID-19-related restrictions being introduced, and stated, "We have given ourselves until next May to make a decision [on the viability of the three restaurants]. The worst-case scenario is that we end up with just Cava because it's the only one at the moment that's financially viable."
© 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.
