Restaurants set for quieter Mother’s Day
RESTAURANTS are preparing for what is likely to be one of the strangest Mothering Sundays ever this year, with lockdown rules meaning they have had to make some drastic changes in order to open.
For some this has meant removing tables and being ready to make sure they have customers’ details and that their patrons wear masks, for others it has meant a big change to their traditional Sunday lunch menus.
The Pony Inn is one establishment that has had to sacrifice one of its biggest draws, the Sunday carvery.
‘We’ll be offering plated roasts,’ said manager Ben Corson, adding that the usual full Sunday lunch menu will also be offered.
The premises is also having to keep its popular children’s play area closed for the time being and the family section of the dining area is being made into several tables of 10 which could see two families sharing, with empty seats between them.
‘We’re only at about half capacity,’ said Mr Corson.
‘We’d normally have 300-plus in for Mother’s Day.
‘People are a little bit worried about going out just yet.’
It is offering two sittings and as of yesterday lunchtime Mr Corson said there were still some tables available.
As in other establishments, there will be fewer diners at Les Cotils than on a normal Sunday, but Public Health has given permission for lunch to be served in the large Harry Bound room as well as the restaurant on Mother’s Day.
‘On a normal Sunday we’d have 100 people for lunch, but we’re fully booked with 60 people this Sunday,’ events manager Kerry Lowe said.
While 40 will be in the Harry Bound room, 20 will be seated in the restaurant.
‘The staff are raring to go,’ she added. ‘We’re all pleased to be able to welcome customers back in.’
Crabby Jacks general manager Luigi Cammara expected that it would be catering to about 110 customers this Mother’s Day, which was substantially fewer than normal.
There were still some tables available, he said yesterday: ‘We’re almost fully booked and we’ll have dinner time and a late lunch.
‘We can provide our normal menu and we’ve not had to change anything.’
Paddy Scally, owner and chef at The Old Quarter, said it will be catering for the same number of diners as on a typical Mother’s Day this year by opening for both lunch and dinner.
Usually, only lunch would be offered.
‘We’re basically just under half capacity than we’d normally be,’ he said.
‘Usually Mother’s Day would last [from lunch] right into the evening.
‘We’ve spread out the tables we have, but some will be left empty and we’re not doing re-sits.’
As of yesterday he said Sunday lunch was almost full and he was pleased with the bookings: ‘We’ve not advertised it and I didn’t expect it to be crazy busy anyway.
‘I’m just really glad to be open, full stop.’
