Irish pubs reopening – many bars seem to be about to close for St. Stephen’s Day

Many pubs are likely to close on Valentine’s Day due to lack of food delivery and to give staff a break.

Michael O’Donovan, president of the Cork branch of the Irish Vintners Federation, said staff who have been asked to work longer hours before Christmas will likely have December 26 off.

Pubs that serve food reopened on Friday after the Level 5 restrictions were lifted, with staff on the list for the month.

O’Donovan said: “Normally, on Christmas Eve, most places finish the meal after lunch.

“But with the guidelines as they are now, where a pub can only function as a restaurant, they have to have food until closing time.

“So having compensation with the staff, they (the innkeepers) decided to close on St. Stephen’s Day if they work late on Christmas Eve and again late on New Years Eve.”

But fresh food deliveries are also a factor, and many vendors are unlikely to deliver on Dec. 26.

O’Donovan, who runs the historic Castle Inn family pub in Cork City, said the last food deliveries for many pubs would be on Christmas Eve.

He said: “Our members discovered that the vendors are not working on Saint Stephen’s Day, so many bars have made the decision, to be able to operate on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, that they will be closed in Saint Stephen. Day.

“Traditionally, if you look around Cork City, most restaurants close a few days after Christmas.”

Under normal circumstances, Valentine’s Day is a popular pub day in suburban pubs with televised horse racing and sports.