Outdoor dining added to popular local venue

A popular Killyclogher venue has made big changes to their outdoor dining provision ahead of reopening on Friday, as they hope to make the most of the Christmas rush.

The Village Inn has extended their outdoor dining facilities in an attempt to increase capacity and make customers feel safer as they reopen tomorrow (Friday). Restaurants and pubs which serve food are allowed to reopen tomorrow (Friday) while wet pubs will remain closed for the foreseeable future as part of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Manager of The Village Inn, Michael Carr, explains that the shelter was added to the venue to give people the option to sit outside, and to cope with the ‘new normal’. He explained, “This is our busiest time of the year and we are looking forward to getting people back in through the doors.

“We are hopeful that the vaccine will be a success and it won’t be long until we are back to normal again but for now, this is the new normal and we have to adapt to that. “We have added a sheltered area to our premises where people can sit and enjoy a coffee or their food while remaining outdoors. “Some people have been opting to do that so they feel safer than being inside. We have lost a bit of capacity due to the regulations but we are working with what we have and we have all the required measures in place to ensure our customers and staff are safe.

Mr Carr added, “We are looking forward to getting open and making the most of the Christmas period.”

Meanwhile, shops, hairdressers, places of worship and hotels are among the businesses which will also be able to re-open from tomorrow. The Stormont Executive has also agreed Christmas household bubbling arrangements from December 23-27. Three households will be able to come together for this period in domestic settings, outdoor public spaces and places of worship. One of the households will be able to include their existing household bubble.