Restaurants embracing outdoor dining achieve up to 30% of pre-Covid business

Public health restrictions have forced cities like Cork to do a '180' on what can be achieved when they embrace pedestrianisation

The new outdoor seating at the Market Lane restaurant on the junction of Oliver Plunkett Street and Beasley Street in Cork City.

Restaurant operators say they have been able to achieve up to a third of the business they had pre-Covid when fully embracing outdoor dining in the warm weather.

Tracey Sweeney, co-owner of the Market Lane Group in Cork which operates the Elbow Lane, Goldie and Market Lane restaurants on Oliver Plunkett Street said improved pedestrianisation in the city has been a "lifesaver" for their business.