‘Appalled’ - Top NI restaurateur Michael Deane rages against proposed ban on alcohol that could see hospitality sector reopen

Northern Ireland is due to exit a four week long ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown on Friday November 13 however it has been widely reported that health experts have advised the Executive to extend it for another two weeks.

The hospitality sector has been decimated as a result of the full lockdown in March, a raft of restrictions and more recently, the ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown.

In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, suggested restaurants and cafes could reopen from Friday but with the provision alcohol is not sold - ‘wet pubs’ would remain closed.

Well known restaurateur, Michael Deane, said he was “appalled” at the deputy First Minister’s comments and claimed if there was to be a ban on the sale of alcohol it would make more business sense for him to keep his restaurants closed.

“I was absolutely appalled at what I heard,” Mr. Deane told BBC Radio Ulster breakfast programme Good Morning Ulster on Monday morning.

“We are already down 50 per cent and that’s with the restrictions that allowed us to reopen again.

“We estimate that we have lost £2m during the pandemic and it will cost us £20,000 to reopen again.

“If we couldn’t sell alcohol it would not be viable for us to open,” said Mr. Deane.

The Executive is set to finalise and announce its decision concerning the hospitality sector later today.

Michael Deane’s restaurants and eateries include Deane’s Meat Locker; Deane’s Love Fish; Deane’s at Queens; Deane’s Eipic; Deane’s Deli; Deance & Decano;