Pubs stuck in cruel limbo as planned lockdown strangles sector

The Government announcement that the hospitality sector, including pubs serving food, is likely to be shut down three days after Christmas is further proof that a coherent roadmap to a sustainable reopening is vital if the trade is to survive in 2021. The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland says pubs are at the mercy of Government […]

Government used misleading data to keep pubs closed – VFI & LVA

The Government used misleading data and information to keep wet pubs closed, according to the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI). In a strident rebuttal of the information published by the Government, the vintners representatives have highlighted 14 different flaws, deceptive uses of data and incomplete considerations. The vintners have characterised […]

Black Friday for pubs as Government hypocrisy splits trade in two – VFI

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) says the political decision to keep pubs closed while allowing food premises to reopen highlights a stunning act of Government hypocrisy, which has resulted in publicans now being treated as second-class citizens within the hospitality sector. Publicans strongly believe that because both pubs and restaurants are defined as controlled […]

All-out attack on pub sector will create massive unrest, say VFI

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) says speculation that pubs will be permitted to open only if they have a chef and kitchen is further proof that Government and its NPHET partners will stop at nothing to grind our sector into the ground. Their actions are demonising a trade that is now fighting for it’s […]

Hospitality sector must be given opportunity to open together, says VFI

Pubs, restaurants and cafes must be allowed the opportunity to open together when lockdown restrictions are lifted, as the Government’s own data proves private dwellings, not hospitality outlets, are the primary source of Covid outbreaks.  The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) says all pubs should be given the same opportunity as other businesses to allow […]

Pubs #KeepTheLightsOn to highlight readiness for opening

The VFI, LVA and Hospitality Ulster have joined forces with Guinness Raising the Bar to launch #KEEPTHELIGHTSON – a campaign that will quite literally shine a light on our pubs, highlighting their readiness for a safe reopening. As part of the campaign, pubs across the island of Ireland, north and south, are coming together to […]

Country faces two-tier Christmas if hospitality sector kept closed

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) has warned that the country will face a “two-tier Christmas” if the hospitality sector remains closed when we emerge from the current lockdown.  Pub staff from all across the country are contacting their employers to ask if they can return to work in […]

New measures will provide ‘degree of hope’, say Vintners

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) says measures introduced in Budget 2021 to aid the sector will bring some degree of confidence to publicans, who are facing into a protracted period of uncertainty after enduring a near total shutdown for most of 2020.  However, there is disappointment the budget failed to reflect the fact these […]

New alcohol strategy required to beat virus, say vintners

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) is calling on Government to immediately introduce Minimum Unit Pricing and curtail the availability of cheap alcohol as part of the overall strategy to reduce the country’s infection rate. VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben, says: “The availability of cheap alcohol is fuelling house parties that NPHET (National Public Health […]

Level Three restrictions will see 50,000 jobs lost in pub sector – VFI

The Government decision to move the entire country to Level Three will see 50,000 bar staff lose their jobs in another devastating development for the pub sector in a year where it has borne the brunt of lockdown restrictions and closures. Many pubs had only reopened two weeks ago after closing on 15th March.There is […]

After six months closed, Publicans relieved to open their doors

Statement from Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) Chief Executive Padraig Cribben: “The general sense from talking to publicans around the country is they’re happy to be open and meeting old regulars. Publicans are by their nature outgoing people and the pub is more a way of life than a job, so to be closed for […]

NPHET’s reckless approach will collapse pub sector – VFI

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is on the verge of collapsing the entire pub sector in Ireland as it effectively closes most pubs in Dublin and threatens similar action in the rest of the country, says the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI). The representative body for publicans says that just three days after […]

Publicans demand “equality for all” ahead of Roadmap launch

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) says the entire hospitality sector should be treated equally in the ‘Living with Covid’ Roadmap which is due to be published Tuesday. Publicans, say the VFI, are anxious to avoid a situation where pubs are treated differently to restaurants, cafes, hotel bars and pubs serving food when decisions are […]

“About Time” – Vintners welcome fixed reopening date for pubs

The two representative bodies for pubs across Ireland have welcomed the announcement that non food pubs will be allowed to reopen, saying “it’s about time”. The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said the non food pubs will have been closed for 189 days – more than 6 months – […]

VFI statement – New guidelines bureaucracy gone mad

The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) says the introduction of a new law, which states that restaurants and pubs serving food must now record all individual food orders and keep that data for 28 days, is “bureaucracy gone mad” and will add a huge burden to already struggling businesses. Padraig Cribben, VFI Chief Executive, says: “This is crazy stuff. The […]

Despair at lack of meaningful support for pub trade

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) has reacted to the Government announcement of a package for pubs this evening, saying “we asked for Support, Not Sympathy and the Government has given us crumbs”. Pubs that are still closed will receive the same level of restart grant as provided to […]

Government losing the support of the pub sector

The Government is losing the support of the pub sector, according to the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) saying it needs to announce ‘support, not sympathy’ for the sector this week. The representative body for pubs outside Dublin was reacting to a survey of publicans whose pubs are still closed, which showed 82% no longer […]

Five months closed – Thousands of pubs ask Government for #SupportNotSympathy

Previous Next Grassroots social media campaign sees publicans, family members and staff in every county highlighting plight of sector as they pose outside their pubs Thousands of pubs across Ireland pushed the Government for ‘Support not Sympathy’ on the day that marked the five month shutdown for more than 3,500 of the country’s pubs.  The […]

Publicans press for strong support package for closed pubs

Publicans are pressing the Government to provide a strong support package for pubs who are unable to open due to the public health circumstances. With pubs being treated differently to other sectors of the economy the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and Licensed Vintners Association (LVA)  want to see funding provided to all pubs who […]