WALKING THROUGH DUBLIN city centre earlier today, you wouldn’t – at first – think that much has changed compared to recent weeks.
One of the protagonists of James Joyce’s Ulysses muses at one point in the book that a “good puzzle would be cross Dublin without passing a pub”.Even though some have now opened their doors again, it actually would be quite straightforward to cross Dublin without passing an open pub, at least. As you walk in, the bar is on the left hand side and the first striking point is that there are no stools at the bar where before there may have been a dozen before.
It’s all new to us. We’re looking to adhere to the guidelines, and we’ve done what we can there. This is a local pub that locals come to. It’s not a town pub. People in Ballyfermot were looking forward to us re-opening. We have to do what we can to make sure it all works now. The after-work pub A lovely stop in the Hairy Lemon and starting to wonder if I could expense a €9 meal and a pint. Staff here have gone to every length to keep people distant and to the guidelines. Manager Darren Cooper delighted to be back. pic.twitter.com/EFFbTyrP8J“Everything is dusted down, painted and scrubbed,” he said.
There’s none of that now. People go in in small groups. They book in advance. They’re assigned their seats. There are signs everywhere reminding people of social distancing and designated routes to the toilet and in and out of the pub. Walking through Dame Lane, it’s another reminder that things haven’t quite returned to normal yet. The still-closed pubs of the Long Hall on George Street and the Norseman and Temple Bar pub are another reminder.With hotels on either side of the pub, and groups performing most evenings, it usually attracts tourists in their droves as well as musicians and those who love a bit of live music.
Every 20 minutes, the toilets will be cleaned and staff will be on the floor attending to customers particularly on Fridays and Saturdays which is when they have the most bookings.
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Source: IrishTimes - 🏆 3. / 98 Read more »