Hundreds of hotels, guest houses, restaurants, bars and cafés across Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council are looking forward to safely reopening on Monday as part of a planned easing of restrictions for the hospitality sector.
Venues will be allowed to reopen in line with detailed reopening guidance and safety protocols, which includes bars and public houses selling food and alcohol on a table service basis indoors and outdoors.
Hotels are also permitted to reopen along with their restaurants and bars.
Campsites, caravans and self-contained tourism accommodation are also making final preparations to safely reopen as part of wider plans to ease restrictions and boost the visitor economy.
Many hospitality venues across the borough have already been safely serving customers outdoors since April 30.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Councillor Kevin Savage, welcomed confirmation from the Northern Ireland Executive: “I’m delighted that our hospitality venues can now look forward to safely reopening after a prolonged closure to continue to deliver what they’re best at – providing a first-class and award-winning customer service in welcoming and safe environments that bring visitors back to Armagh and the wider borough time and time again.
“Important for our local economy, the reopening of our hospitality sector will complement our wider tourism plans for both new and regular visitors to the area who can look forward to enjoying great days out and nights in while experiencing our unique natural environment, cultural heritage and unrivalled visitor attractions.”
Leading hospitality venues across Armagh and the wider region reopening include the Belmont Hotel, Armagh City and Seagoe Hotels, Blackwell, Crannagael and Newforge House, while leading standalone restaurants preparing to safely reopen include Uluru Bar & Grill, Embers, Groucho’s, Basil Shiels, The Vault, Sintons at The Bridge, Hollie Berrie at the Tea Rooms, Quails at the Gallery, Linen Hill and Harry’s Bar & Kitchen.
In line with government advice, visitors can be confident that all venues will be adhering to enhanced safety protocols with stringent cleaning measures in place, the availability of hand sanitising stations for all guests, the use of face masks and track and trace.
Visitors are encouraged to look out for venues participating in the ‘We’re Good To Go’ safe industry standard, backed by Tourism Northern Ireland, which is the official UK mark to signal that a tourism and hospitality business has worked hard to follow government and industry guidelines and has processes in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.
For more information, jump into www.visitarmagh.com
