Bars, restraunts etc in Northern Ireland, are defying the executive.

[GoodQueenAlysanne]

Many bars etc that were forced to shut as part of the circuit breaker, have been waiting days to find out if they can reopen tomorrow. The DUP have vetoed an extension, perhaps as a stalling tactic to reach the deadline tonight, and force an end to the circuit breaker.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54912100

Now a few bars, restraunts etc are saying they don't care what decision is reached, they're opening anyway. Not sure if the thinking is the executive will have to go ahead and put an end the circuit breaker with minimal restrictions, to avoid trouble?

The national and dirty onion seem to have announced it first, but more are following suit.

www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/belfast-bar-dirty-onion-says-19267389

Considering our history, I wonder if things could really kick off? Look at all the trouble a flag being removed caused, and this is people's livelihoods at risk, not just national pride and cultural identity. Working class people on both sides are utterly fed up with the circus Stormont has turned into these last few years. The protests in October didn't take off, but people are a lot more angry now, at how this crisis is being handled by our so called leaders. If the riot police have to forcibly close bars, it could get really ugly.

I don’t blame these businesses one little bit. Tbh I hope all of them open tomorrow. The riot police can’t close all of them. Although I doubt riot police will be brought in. Probably just massive fines issued which hits the businesses where it hurts whereas riot police would create a lot more sympathy for the businesses.

I highly doubt the riot police will be called in to close bars. I saw the executive were wrong in their statements last night that if they don’t reach an agreement it would revert immediately at midnight tonight and actually reverts 24hrs later, so Friday reopenings may still be off, but without public support I doubt much would be done about it

I hope the police won't be called in to shut premises. This was done in certain areas the weekend before the circuit breaker was announced, they raided a few bars and restraunts, that they thought might not be sticking to restrictions. People cooperated then, as I think they felt they'd been "caught out" if they were flouting restrictions, or weren't doing anything wrong anyway

This re-opening despite the actual deadline being tomorrow night, is a new level of defiance though, and I worry they may try to make an example, before the whole hospitality industry (and beauty etc) think fuck them, and do likewise.

"Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland will be extended for one more week with a partial reopening of some sectors next Friday, the executive has agreed." Bars and pubs are the 27th. I wonder how many will completely ignore this decision?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54924606