'Let's open the doors at the earliest opportunity' says Walker

COVID: Slieve Russell manager suggests opening restaurant for residents only first

“Let’s get outdoors open at the earliest opportunity and get our staff back to work,” is the rallying call of the Slieve Russell Hotel General Manager Tony Walker.

Having taken the Taoiseach’s recent address to heart, and the prediction that by the end of May six million vaccines will have been delivered to the vast majority of the nation, Tony Walker suggests: “In that scenario, what would prevent us opening our hotel at the beginning of June? I know the Taoiseach mentioned June in his address, but he was not very clear when we would open in June.

“I am going to be very optimistic and say we would be open in early June. There will be a groundswell from the people – they will want to break loose and get away for a break,” has says, emphasising hotels and restaurants proved they could operate safely and responsibly when last reopened.

He considers a sensible approach may be to allow them to open to residents only for the first few weeks, to permit a level of occupancy in the restaurants.

Mr Walker predicts a huge demand for the domestic market stay-cation this year. “We all had a very successful July and August last year and I see no reason why we would not repeat that again this year.”

He also thinks that Northern visitors coming South may be a little bit more cautious initially, but he still is optimistic they will travel down. “They will get more value this year, because sterling is now at 85 pence per Euro.”

The local hotel manager said they’re delighted to reopen the Golf Course on April 26. “Without having all the details as yet, it will probably be for members only for the first few weeks. There might even be a number of protocols in place in terms of just two balls or three balls and with people from one other household or whatever.”

Unfortunately, he doesn’t think a return in the wedding business is on the horizon at present.

“They increased the number that can attend a funeral to 25 at some point towards the end of April. Could we see weddings in June back up to 27, with a view to going up to 50 in July/August”, said Tony Walker.

“Then you would have to ask, if we have 70-75% of the people vaccinated by the beginning of September, could we see our weddings numbers grow back up to 100, maybe from the 1st October and for the rest of the year”, contemplates Mr Walker.