Commercial Property

An enthusiastic return to socialising helps hospitality outlets keep their doors open

During the numerous pandemic lockdowns, government subsidies ensured that businesses could keep trading and the closures to date have been quite minimal

This was an active year in the restaurant sector, which saw many new openings, including Jamie Oliver’s Chequer Lane on Exchequer Street in Dublin 2. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Following three long lockdowns, Ireland is now thankfully in the recovery phase of its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last January, we saw the removal of almost all remaining restrictions which allowed the hospitality industry to revert to normalised trading patterns.

City centre footfall and overseas tourism are still not back to pre-pandemic levels but, by last summer, both were about 90 per cent of the way there, according to relevant data.

Throughout 2022, customers ...