'It was great to reopen and see people we hadn't seen in a long time'

There was "a pep in everyone's step" at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel when it reopened to the public on Monday morning this week.

That's according to Alan McCaul, general manager of the long-established Athlone hotel, who said its workers were glad to be back welcoming people for food and overnight stays.

"It was really good to reopen the doors and see people we hadn't seen in a long time," Alan (pictured above) told the Westmeath Independent.

"We had been open for essential workers but we obviously didn't really have people in the hotel (in recent months) other than people who were going to their rooms. So there was a real feel-good factor and it was lovely to see people again."

While the Shamrock Lodge and other local hotels are currently missing out on income from hosting functions, Alan said the level of bookings for accommodation had been encouraging.

"Our accommodation has picked up straight away, which we were delighted with, and we have a good number of bookings for the next couple of weeks. Bookings for lunch and evening food have been positive as well," he said.

The Hodson Bay, Sheraton, and Athlone Springs hotels also reopened on Monday, while the Prince of Wales is due to reopen on July 8, and the Radisson Blu Hotel resumes trading on July 9.

The Shack in Athlone reopened on Monday but it will be "more of a restaurant than a pub" for the next three weeks, according to proprietor Mark Claffey.

The premises on the Dublin Road is open from 12-9pm each day but customers have to abide by the Government's guidelines on ordering a meal and staying for no longer than 105 minutes.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent on Monday evening, Mark said business on the first day back had been "steady" rather than busy, but that customers had been enjoying their return to The Shack.

"For the moment, people come in and get seated. There are no barstools, and there's no walking around. People are served everything at their table, and so far it's going well.

"Everyone who has come in is enjoying it and they're adhering to the rules and following social distancing, which is positive."

Another well-known Athlone hostelry, The Bounty, also returned for lunch and dinner on Monday. Signage, sanitising stations and a number of screens between tables had to be installed as part of the reopening preparations.

"We were given the guidelines and we just had to follow them, but we're happy with the way it turned out. It looks well, I think, and it gives you a safe feeling when you come in," said Tom Silke of The Bounty.

Speaking on Monday afternoon, he said business hadn't been overly busy for lunch that day but bookings looked more promising for the evening.

All of the staff on the food side of the business had been rehired, and Tom was hopeful that those who had not yet returned to work at The Bounty would have an opportunity to do so in the weeks ahead.

"We will see how it pans out, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that there is a market there for it," said Tom.

"Everybody in our food operation is back, and in fairness the reaction of our staff has been great. Everyone was delighted to be back, and was very understanding about what it takes to reopen again.

"On the bar side of the business there aren't as many hours there, but I'd like to think that in a few weeks everyone who was working for us, pre-Covid, will be getting hours."

Thyme restaurant in Athlone, which won a Michelin Bib Gourmand award last year, reopened from 5pm yesterday (Wednesday) but social distancing has reduced its capacity by 50%.

Owner John Coffey said he and the staff were pleased to be back, and there had been a flurry of bookings when the restaurant announced it was reopening.

Thyme's menu will change daily and, in one of the new measures being introduced, people with bookings will now be sent the menu by email or WhatsApp before they arrive.

"In some ways, it's an opportunity to try and do things a little bit differently," said John.

He explained the business had rehired most of its staff but its opening hours had been reduced, from a seven-day to a five-day opening, and two of its chefs had not been rehired as of yet.

"We are hoping that eventually we will get back to having a full team, but it's about taking baby steps for the moment," he said.

John felt Athlone would be well-placed to pick up business from visitors taking a 'staycation' in Ireland, but was more concerned about footfall in the autumn and winter.

"I would imagine that for the first two months we'll be fine, but it's what's coming after that - when there's not the same number of tourists around - that you'd be concerned about," he said.

"A lot of our business midweek would have been corporate (bookings) but I'd imagine that will be gone for the foreseeable future."

In other local business news, the popular Glasson Village Restaurant, which traded for almost 34 years, announced in recent weeks that it will not be reopening.

Glasson Village Restaurant had been operated by the Brooks family who said, in a message on Facebook, that the "hard work, tears, laughter, amazing memories and wonderful friendships," at the restaurant would be cherished forever.

Two other businesses in Athlone town, Downtown Hairstyles on Castle Street, and Cloud Nine Cafe on Payne's Lane, have also announced that, unfortunately, they will not be reopening.