HU URGES NI EXEC TO BRING THE BEATS BACK AS IT EXAMINES RETURN OF LIVE MUSIC

09 June 2021

HU URGES NI EXEC TO BRING THE BEATS BACK AS IT EXAMINES RETURN OF LIVE MUSIC

Hospitality Ulster is calling on the NI Executive to do all it can to lift the ban on live music when it meets tomorrow to review coronavirus restrictions.

 

In the lead into the meeting it has welcomed Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLAs indication to support the re-establishment of live music here, from 21 June.

 

Now it is encouraging the wider Executive to make the right call collectively to get live music back, which has been sadly missing throughout the early stages of the reopening of the hospitality sector.

 

The organisation is also pressing the Executive to accelerate the easement programme and bring forward the ‘freedom day’ when all restrictions will be lifted.

 

The call comes as the latest information from market measurement, data and research consultancy CGA in association with Hospitality Ulster shows that as of last week, Northern Ireland has seen a 3.5% fall in cases with 74% of the Northern Ireland adult population receiving a vaccine dose and almost half having received their second dose. Comparison to other parts of the UK shows that Northern Ireland’s case rate is lower than the majority of English regions, with a significantly lower rate than the likes of the North West, Yorkshire or London.

 

Colin Neill, Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster said:

 

“Live music is a huge part of the hospitality offering in Northern Ireland and brings hundreds of thousands of people to venues every year. People go out to our pubs, hotels and restaurants seeking a drink, good food, and to be entertained – live music is an integral part of that. It is hard to say we are fully open when we do not have the important factor of live entertainment available. It is much missed by customers as they get back out. We encourage the Executive to do the right thing tomorrow and green light the return of live music, especially for the musicians and the venues who are struggling.”

 

“Northern Ireland is known for its rich fabric of talented musicians. These musicians, and the venues which host them, feel left behind. With data showing low Covid-19 transmission rates and the increasing success of the vaccine roll-out, now is the time for live music to be back on the agenda.”

 

“Surely with the successful re-emergence of the sector to date, there now must be huge focus on the lifting of all restrictions to get the entire sector on its feet again. We hope that our ‘freedom day’ isn’t far away.”