GUINNESS IS working double time to ensure Ireland is ready for the reopening of pubs across the country this month.
The iconic Irish stout makers have revealed they will be brewing up five million extra pints of the black stuff at their legendary St. James’ Gate facility in Dublin.
It comes as pubs and bars prepare to reopen their doors to the public from June 7 after months spent shut due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Guinness remains far and away Ireland’s favourite tipple, so it is hardly a surprise to see the company behind it ramping up efforts to be ready ahead of potentially busy summer.
It is all part of the €14 million “Raising the Bar” initiative set up by the company last June to help pubs through the pandemic.
Established to provide essential support and expertise to the pub and hospitality trade in Ireland, the programme also offers advice on operating safely and securely in Covid times.
Guinness has also provided essential equipment to these ailing pubs to ensure they can reopen and stay open.
This support has varied from everything including the establishment of online booking systems to the training of staff in the ways of the new normal.
To date, more than 5,000 publican have been kitted out with safety gear and uniforms while an estimated 125,000 litres of hand sanitiser has also been sent out.
Guinness has also worked to provide essential Covid-19 safety training to staff and has provided assistance in the construction of over 1,200 outdoor spaces in pubs across the country.
GettyHilary Quinn, Marketing Director Ireland, Diageo said: “Guinness is committed to supporting Irish pubs and the hospitality trade to emerge stronger.
“We’ve worked hand in hand with trade partners to provide vital solutions since lockdown measures were introduced on March 15 2020 and we will continue to do so through Guinness
Raising the Bar.
"The initiative is our commitment to the future of the Irish pub which serves as the social hub at the heart of our communities; a place to connect, to converse, to share, to enjoy.
“The brewers at St James’ Gate and our quality teams across the island have been working flat out to ensure every outlet is fully equipped with fresh, beautiful Guinness, ready and waiting for people to enjoy those much-anticipated moments of reconnection and socialising again.”
