NI drinkers are heading for shebeens and garden pubs says bar manager

Willard D Barber, manager of McConville’s Bar in Portadown, said there has been a huge rise in house parties with many ‘garden pubs’ being erected across the country.

He said: “People still want to socialise and they aren’t paying heed to the actual social distancing rules. They still want to drink and see their friends. Now, because the pubs are closed, there is nowhere regulated for them to go - so they just go to house parties.”

There have been reports a number of shebeens or illegal pubs with patrons paying for drinks.

Mr Barber said he is certain no official bars are opening illegally because the implications for anyone in the licensing trade is far too great.

“It doesn’t surprise me that there are people out there who are setting up illegal shebeens. That’s because pubs are closed and there is no regulation on people doing that from home. Obviously it is illegal,” said Mr Barber.

He said it was reminiscent of the days of Prohibition and Speakeasies in 1920s America.

“It’s a bit like that now with people going to houses and inviting their friends round. I don’t know if they are charging or if there is a ‘secret box’,” he said.

He called on the bars to reopen: “I think it is very unfair that pubs had to close. It also further proves that actually the pubs weren’t the cause of the issues.

“I think it is time that everyone got back to school and back to work. I don’t think closing schools or pubs is really helpful. It’s not fair to blame pubs and close contact services when actually, since they have been closed, the numbers have increased.”

Hair salon owner writes to First and Deputy First Minister after five weeks with no income Read the story here-

-

Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.