The last port of call
When the Celt talks to Ollie Gargan, 143 days have passed since the Lemon Tree closed its doors. As you read this, it’s nearing 150.
“One of my brothers was working,” recalls Ollie, who helps run the family-owned business. “The local guards are across the road from us, and some came in and said that the place had to be empty by a certain time, it could have been 11.30pm – you were kind of taken back a bit at how serious it was becoming, even then.
“Initially everyone thought it would just be for two weeks - then 143 days later the pubs are still shut to this day.”
While the name above the door is The Lemon Tree, everyone knows it as Micko’s, after his father who took it over 40 years ago. The lockdown afforded them the chance to give inside a fresh coat of paint and do a little bit of maintenance.
“But all that was done within the first month or two, when you were thinking it was going to be opened quickly.”
They have since erected screens and sanitising stations at both doors, but still no one is permitted to enter. The delay is like waiting for a pint of stout to settle.
He’s not holding his breath over the new potential opening date of August 31.
“I’m definitely sceptical at this stage. Every day it’s pushed back more and pushed back more. To be honest, you become kind of immune to it at this stage – you don’t feel anything because it’s become such a long drawn out process. You shrug your shoulders, there’s nothing we can do about it, it’s the higher powers.”
With the schools the obvious priority, Ollie suspects the wait won’t be over anytime soon.
“Pubs are going to be the last port of call as they say.”
When they eventually do reopen how will bars fare?
“It really varies. I think when the doors reopen, we’ll get more of a feel for it then. With the doors closed at the minute, it’s bah-humbug, you think the worst case scenario, but you won’t know until the doors are open and you have a few people in.
“Obviously everything is going to be running on reduced hours and socially distanced – you still don’t know if it is going to be one metre in a pub or two metres.”
While it’s bleak prospect for bars like the Lemon Tree, Ollie is still counting his blessings.
“With Dad’s pub here in town – it is in the middle of a built up area. Rural pubs, they wouldn’t stand a chance to be honest. You weigh up your options: for a lot of the rural pubs is it worthwhile for them to open up?”