There are eleven days to go until pubs begin to reopen.

Now a final set of guidelines published by Fáilte Ireland ahead of the June 29th kick-off has laid out exactly what customers can expect when they venture into their local bar or restaurant.

It will be a steep learning curve, but if you’re looking forward to heading out and supporting your local watering holes and eateries, it’s the start of the new normal as Ireland’s hospitality industry begins its slow recovery and that’s certainly something worth celebrating.

Here are six things to know before you book a table:

1. Social distancing dropped to one metre

The two-metre social distancing rule is still recommended in theory, but inside pubs and restaurants, the new guidelines, released last night, dictate that one metre is sufficient.

“Customers must be advised to stand at least two metres away from other groups of people who are not from the same household, at all times,” the guidelines say.

“In a controlled environment, such as pubs, bars, gastropubs, restaurants and cafes, physical distancing of at least two metres is required, unless the requirements outlined [in the document] have been met, in which case a minimum of one-metre is sufficient.”

2. Time limit

The rules, drawn up by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), will see visitors permitted to visit a pub for a meal provided they stay no longer than one hour and 45 minutes – plus an extra 15 minutes reserved for turning the table, during which time the table should be empty as it is fully cleaned and disinfected.

3. No walk-ins

Tables must be booked in advance (no walk-ins) and customers must remain seated during their meal, except for trips to the loo. The person booking a table must supply their contact details so they can be reached if contact tracing needs to be carried out in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak.

4. Carvery will be allowed

If you’re looking forward to your usual roast, the good news is that carvery service will be allowed, provided physical distancing and other Public Health advice can be followed. According to the guidelines, “customer access to carvery/buffet/open food display should be staggered and a one-way system introduced.”

5. Meals must cost at least €9

Fáilte Ireland said the food offered will need to be a substantial meal, as defined by the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1962; a dish suitable as a main course and costing no less than €9, something that Cork publican Benny McCabe has labelled ‘elitist and exclusionary’.

The measure is designed to sidestep a situation highlighted by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan earlier this month when he pointed out that a group of “fellas drinking pints and eating a packet of peanuts” would not turn a pub into a restaurant.

6. Not all gastropubs will reopen in June 

Despite owning a number of venues that serve food, Mr McCabe has decided to wait until July 20th to reopen. The publican, whose stable of Cork bars includes Arthur Maynes, the Crane Lane, Sin É, Rising Sons and The Bodega, believes the 90-minute rule will rush customers and lead to pub crawls, describing the situation as a potential ‘drinking Olympics’.