Cross-border travel: Snub for Robin Swann from Dublin counterpart shows ‘contempt’, says Jim Allister

Northern Ireland pubs hail 'fantastic day' as drinkers return indoors for first time this year

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Subscribe              May 24, 2021           Dear reader Monday, May 24, 2021 will surely go down as the most important day for Northern Ireland's hospitality sector in recent years.   Today was the first time in 2021 that bars and restaurants were able to open indoors, providing an enormous boost to trade here, with one pub manager describing it as a "fantastic day". Hotels have also reopened with the manager of the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast saying bookings are up and that there is still an appetite from abroad to visit Northern Ireland.  Unlike last summer, when hospitality reopened following the first lockdown, there is more realistic hope that thanks to the vaccination programme success, this time the industry can return to normality and not have to close again.  In politics, Doug Beattie's Ulster Unionist leadership team is taking shape, with Robbie Butler and Andy Allen among his key appointments announced on Monday afternoon.  Alistair Bushe Editor Want total access to all of our online content? You can subscribe to our website, newsletter.co.uk for just £1 a month for 3 months - and it couldn't be easier.   Signing up will get you faster-loading articles, fewer adverts and access to exclusive content and events when we run them. To learn more, visit our Subscriptions page here.               Cross-border travel: Snub for Robin Swann from Dublin counterpart shows 'contempt', says Jim Allister           Health Minister Robin Swann has been treated with "contempt" by his counterpart in Dublin who turned down a request to meet to discuss cross-border travel, an MLA has said.                 Win £50 High Street shopping vouchers.  We are running an exciting 'My Local Landmark' competition, and we want you to get involved. Check out the full details here           Picture special: This is what happened when bars, cafes and hotels reopened   Business owners have hailed a "fantastic day" as customers were allowed to return indoors for the first time this year.           Another 53 people test positive for Covid-19 in last 24 hours - NO deaths reported   Another 52 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, according to the latest Department of Health dashboard.           Northern Ireland pubs hail 'fantastic day' as drinkers return indoors for first time this year   Pub bosses have hailed a "fantastic day" as customers were allowed to return indoors for the first time this year.           NI health minister 'disappointed' at lack of meeting with Irish counterpart   Northern Ireland's health minister has said he has been unable to arrange a meeting with his Irish counterpart to discuss Covid-19, for two weeks.           Van Morrison to play one of first Belfast gigs after lockdown   Van Morrison has announced two Belfast gigs that will be some of the first at the Ulster Hall venue since lockdown.           Indian variant vaccines boost as many businesses in NI reopen   The Pfizer coronavirus vaccine is 88% effective against the Indian variant after two doses, a study by Public Health England (PHE) has found.           Trained dogs can sniff out Covid with up to 94% accuracy - including new variants   Specially trained dogs are able to sniff out Covid-19 with up to 94 per cent accuracy, new research suggests.           LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus NI: January level surge predicted if B.1.617.2 Indian variant allowed to spread   Prof Christina Pagel, director of the clinical operational research unit at University College London and a member of the Independent Sage, has said the United Kingdom will risk the possibility of a surge in infections similar to what unfolded in January if the Indian B.1.617.2 variant is allowed to spread.                 View more news

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