Travel to Northern Ireland to go drinking ‘inevitable’ if pubs don’t open in six weeks

Northern Ireland is set to allow pubs and restaurants to reopen for outdoor service on April 30. Photo: David Parry/PA Wire

People will travel across the border to avail of nights out in the north if pubs and restaurants don’t reopen in Ireland in six weeks time, Ireland’s two main vintners’ groups have claimed.

The Licenced Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) are calling for the return of outdoor eating and drinking before the end of May, following the return of pubs and restaurants for outdoor service in Northern Ireland on April 30.