What a time to be alive.
It's looking like the humble breakfast buffet and classic carvery might be back on the cards for the summer, lads.
Fáilte Ireland released their guidelines for safe indoor and outdoor dining today, and while much of the information concerns maximum table numbers, booking systems, and time limits, the future of the buffet is also addressed.
Last year, guidelines encouraged hotels to avoid buffet-style dining where possible to ensure appropriate social distancing among guests. This year, however, there is no mentioning of avoiding such dining scenarios. And thank god for that.
According to the new guidelines published today, self service carvery and buffets "most only be provided where physical distancing and other public health advice can be followed."
"Physical distancing guidance must also be followed when queuing. Customer access to buffet/carvery/open food display should be staggered and a one way system introduced."
Naturally, not every hotel or restaurant in Ireland will be able to enforce such rules around queuing systems, so there's every chance that a lot of businesses will still be unable to provide buffets and carveries. But a lot of them will be, and that's all that matters.
Other rules around dining ahead of the reopening of such businesses over the coming months include tables of maximum six adults (over the age of 13) and nine children.
Booking should be encouraged by businesses to ensure proper social distancing, however pre-booking and time limited slots of 105 minutes are not a requirement if physical distancing of 2 metres is strictly maintained.
Businesses will operate via table service only and all employees must wear masks at all times. All restaurants and bars must close by 11.30pm.
Hotels and guesthouses are set to reopen on June 2, with outdoor dining for restaurants and beer gardens due to return the following week.
