Restaurants and cafés in Dublin are facing having their doors closed for three weeks as Ireland’s capital is moved to “level 3” in the Government’s living with Covid-19 plan.
Until 10 October, unless reviewed earlier, restaurants, bars and cafés will not be allowed to serve food indoors. This means reverting to takeout/delivery service, possible outdoor service (space permitting), or closing their doors.
The guideline document had (earlier in the week) suggested additional restrictions at level 3, with the potential for those restrictions to include measures “up to and including no indoor dining”.
On top of this
- Religious services have to move online
- Communions and confirmations from this weekend put on hold (and potentially some ‘afters’)
- People’s movements to be restricted to essential work/education in and out of Dublin
- Playing pitches are open for training but closed to matches with all matches off bar professional sport / inter-county GAA / GAA club championships
- Weddings are also restricted with numbers to be reduced from 50 to 25, though weddings booked for this weekend can take place as is.
The Government have also announced a further €30m investment in the restart grant for businesses based in Dublin impacted by the new raft of restrictions.
Restaurant Reactions
Via The Winding Stair Restaurant
“Our dear friends, we are closing our beautiful restaurant for next 3 weeks. We have worked very hard over the last few months to create safe dining experience for all our customers. Thank you for your love and support.Over next few days we will be contacting all our bookings to reschedule your reservations. Our sister restaurant next door @thewollenmils and @theyarnpizza with their beautiful Roof Terrace and front seating will remain open.
Salamanca Tapas Bar have been sharing their sadness at the news…
“It’s not the news we want to be sharing with you all but unfortunately from tonight Salamanca will be closed for the next three weeks or until current restrictions have been eased / lifted.It’s a devastating time for all businesses who were only starting to find their feet after coming out of a national lockdown only for less stringent yet serious restrictions to be introduced…”
“It will no doubt have far reaching implications for us all but as always we are following all necessary guidelines like we have done from the very beginning and throughout this pandemic. We would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you who dined with us since we reopened, we truly appreciate all your support. At the moment we’re just trying to get our heads around the situation but hopefully we’ll be back stronger than everThe health and safety of our team and customers is of paramount importance and so we’ll be back when it’s safe to do so”
“Until then, over and out and stay safe 
“
Chapter One also closes…
“Following guidance from the government and NPHET, from tonight Chapter One will remain closed in the interests of public safety. We hope it won’t be for long, and however long it takes, we will definitely see you all on the other side. Stay safe, everyone.”
The White Moose Café have been outlining their concerns on social media.
“However, we are lucky enough to have both the Moose Terrace and the Moose Yard where customers can sit outdoors. The Yard was built in July for the very purpose of being able to eat outdoors in a safer environment at greater social distance. We will try our best to not have to let any staff members go as a result of this measure, we will simply redeploy them to another outdoor space, but we are acutely aware that not all restaurants and cafes have such a luxury.”
“Dublin restaurants have incurred significant costs in ‘covidising’ their spaces. They’ve put in hand sanitizer stations and screens, they’ve hired additional staff to collect contact tracing details, they’ve spent money on staff training. In the White Moose we’ve even put in a thermal camera to check customer’s temperature on arrival – this alone cost €4,500. These measures appear to be working, as I haven’t heard of one single restaurant in Dublin where there has been an outbreak.
“The danger is that some restaurants will never recover if they have to shut their doors a second time. Tens of thousands of jobs are at stake here.”
Dublin City Council announces measures to support businesses
With full details and applications available via DublinCity.ie, “In relation to restaurants, cafes and pubs that serve food, seeking to utilise the public footpath, designated car parking spaces, and other areas of the public domain under the control of the City Council, requests will be accommodated for the duration of Level 3 restrictions subject to the following conditions”
- The business must have public liability insurance in the amount of €6.4m in place for the use of street furniture in the public realm, specifically indemnifying Dublin City Council.
- The business must take full responsibility for the health and safety of its patrons and of members of the public and have particular regard to residential amenity and to the rights of the mobility impaired and disabled.
- Gas heaters are not permitted.
- A minimum circulation space of 2 metres must be maintained clear of obstruction on the public footpath.
- The outside area must not extend beyond the frontage of the premises or impinge on another business premises without that business’s consent. The area must also be clearly barriered and delineated.
- In the case of a premises taking a car parking space and/or loading bay only one space/bay may be used and the consent of surrounding businesses, who use the loading bay should be sought. Parking spaces/loading bays cannot be used on high traffic volume roads or where speeds regularly exceed 30kmph without the prior approval of the City Council. Street furniture must not impinge on the public carriageway in any other way. Disabled parking spaces cannot be used.
- The preference is for businesses to work together to make these interventions. The City Council will provide support and expertise if requested.
Dublin outlets looking to avail of the scheme can find full details here.
