A ham sandwich won't do for pubs to reopen later this month

Pubs hoping to serve food in order to reopen along with restaurants on June 29 may have to think again.

It follows guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre which indicates that while pubs that serve food and meet other features of a restaurant may reopen on June 29, there are very specific definitions of what constitutes a food offering.

According to Fáilte Ireland which received the guidance document from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre entitled “COVID19: Guidance for Food Service Businesses”, any food offering will be required to be a substantial meal (as defined by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962: “the meal is such as might be expected to be served as a main midday or evening meal or as a main course in either such meal”) and will be required to be of a kind for which it would be reasonable to charge not less than €9.

The guidelines refer to various measures and arrangements, including a potential reduction of the current two-metre physical distancing restriction to one-metre in certain circumstances.

Speculation in national media has indicated that the one-metre guidance may apply in circumstances where customers remain in the pub for less than 90 minutes.

Fáilte Ireland said it is working through the guidance document in consultation with officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to seek clarity on some aspects in order to fully update and incorporate this guidance into our sector specific operational guidelines for food service businesses.