Over 200 pubs yet to reopen in Westmeath and Roscommon

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has called on the Government to urgently publish its reopening guidelines for the 3,438 pubs that have yet to reopen, including over 200 in counties Westmeath and Roscommon.

Figures released by the VFI today (Thursday) state that 97 Westmeath pubs have not yet reopened, while 121 pubs remain closed in Roscommon.

Pubs which do not serve food are scheduled to be allowed reopen in 11 days' time, on July 20, but the VFI pointed out that these premises still do not know how they will need to adapt their business in order to comply with public health requirements.

The delay is also causing anxiety in some rural communities, with many of these unopened pubs serving as the only gathering locations or hospitality venues in their area, the Federation said.

"It's a simple question: ‘Where are the guidelines?’ We are literally just days away from July 20, but there is nothing from government," commeted Mayo publican Marie Mellett, owner of Mellett’s Bar in Swinford.

"For most rural pubs, the bar counter is where all the action is, but we don't even know if bar stools will be allowed. If they're not, the impact on small pubs will be massive as many of our customers will only sit at the bar," added Marie.

A Galway publican, Joe Sheridan of Walsh's Bar in Dunmore, said he and his staff were in limbo until the reopening guidelines were published.

"I'm completely in the dark about how we should prepare the pub for reopening," he said. "The guidelines are critically important for publicans who urgently need information about what work needs to be completed before we open."

"I also have staff wanting to know if they will be going back to work. The current situation is ludicrous and completely unfair to thousands of bar staff around the country and the local communities they serve."

The full list of the number of pubs yet to reopen, by county, is as follows:

Carlow: 58

Cavan: 114

Clare: 169

Cork: 473

Donegal: 180

Galway: 273

Kerry: 221

Kildare: 82

Kilkenny: 94

Laois: 61

Leitrim: 54

Limerick: 208

Longford: 54

Louth: 105

Mayo: 218

Meath: 122

Offaly: 73

Roscommon: 121

Sligo: 78

Tipperary: 223

Waterford: 125

Westmeath: 97

Wexford: 143

Wicklow: 92

Total: 3,438