The UCD Clubhouse is “unlikely” to reopen on the 29th of June according to the establishment’s Manager. All pubs will be allowed to reopen from the 20th of July, although some pubs will be reopening from the end of June.
In an email statement to The College Tribune, the manager of the Clubhouse has stated that the reopening date of the bar is still uncertain, saying- “Due to the reduced level of footfall on campus and with the suspension of some of the summer programmes and with others going online, it is unlikely that the Clubhouse will be opening on 29th of June”
All pubs in Ireland were initially asked to close on the 15th of March until at least the 29th of March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, restaurants can now reopen on Monday the 29th of June as Ireland has accelerated its roadmap to permit pubs to reopen from the 20th of July. Some pubs will be allowed to open alongside restaurants: any pub that serves “substantial meals” will be allowed to open from the end of June.
Regarding what safety measures will be put in place when the Clubhouse does reopen, management said- “The wellbeing of our staff and patrons is our number one priority, and with this, we are currently reviewing the situation and will look to communicate a reopening plan with changes regarding the health and safety measures in due course.”
In the days before the Clubhouse closed, they announced on Facebook they would be putting measures in place to encourage social distancing, such as a change in the furniture layout, and restricting the numbers allowed into the bar at one time. They also planned to encourage patrons to practice good hand hygiene. This gives an indication of the procedures the Clubhouse may establish when they reopen.
Guidelines for the reopening of bars and restaurants were issued last night by tourism agency Fáilte Ireland. These guidelines state that physical distancing of 2 metres must be maintained between tables, and where this is not possible it can be reduced to 1 metre under certain circumstances.
Customers will be encouraged to pre-book, with limitation in place on the length of time that any patron can stay. Customers will be advised to remain seated except for when they are paying, using the toilet or leaving. Pubs will be expected to serve “substantial meals” costing at least €9. A substantial meal refers to the kind of meal that might be expected as a main midday or evening meal.
The University Times reported that the Pavilion in Trinity College has announced that it will not be reopening at the end of June either. Nubar in DCU has reopened as a café garden. Their Facebook page reassures people that their staff will be wearing masks, there will be sanitiser available and a socially-distanced seating arrangement will be in place. Nubar has not yet announced when they intend to reopen as a bar.
Julia Brick – Reporter
