Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade has welcomed the announcement of reopening dates for businesses as an important first step on the road to recovery.
Colm Shannon, Chief Executive Officer of Newry Chamber said:
“Newry Chamber has been calling for the NI Executive to announce indicative dates for the reopening of retail, hospitality and close contact services. Today’s announcement is the beginning of a return to normality and a welcome boost for our local economy.”
“The combination of close contact services opening on the 23rd April, and non-essential retail and outdoor hospitality on 30th April is good for the city centre. Hospitality and retail need each other and the experience from last year is that the town centre only starts to fully recover when hospitality businesses are open as well.”
“It is good that the rest of hospitality has an indicative date of 24th May to plan for. We hope the conditions remain that will allow the NI Executive to confirm this date.”
Stressing the importance of shopping locally, Colm said:
“Our businesses have been closed since before Christmas. They have been an essential part of our community for generations, and it is important that people shop local and support them. Since Christmas they have lost a significant amount of trade. By shopping locally, you are supporting the many people in Newry who depend on these businesses for their livelihood.”
“As a business community we have invested heavily in the safety of our staff, our customers and ensuring our businesses are safe spaces to enjoy the experience of being in our city centre.”
“All our businesses know the importance of opening in a responsible way. They have been tirelessly working to ensure that their businesses can reopen safely. We don’t know how long COVID-19 will be part of our lives, and until then, they will work with the wider community to ensure they remain open and that everyone can enjoy the experience of being back in our city centre.”
KEY DATES:
Friday 23rd April 2021:
- Reopening of close contact services including training.
- Reopening of outdoor visitor attractions including outdoor activity centres.
Friday 30th April 2021:
- Reopening all of retail.
- Reopening of self-contained tourist accommodation for one household only.
- Reopening unlicensed premises, outdoors only with a max. of 6 people from 2 households per table.
- Reopening of licensed premises, including social clubs, outdoors only, limited to 6 people from no more than 2 households.
- Curfew time on takeaways and off licences lifted.
- Reopening of gyms, swimming pools and other large venues.
Monday 24th May 2021 (Indicative Date):
- Reopening of unlicensed and licensed premises indoors with mitigations.
- Reopening the remainder of Tourist accommodation.
- Reopening of indoor visitor attractions.