TheCity

Tag: hospitality

  • ‘We really want to give back to our community’: Notions restaurant taking care of those in the hospitality industry 

    ‘We really want to give back to our community’: Notions restaurant taking care of those in the hospitality industry 

    Photo Credit: Mayara Suzart

    The newly established Notions restaurant, based in Two Pups Café, Dublin 8, is offering 20% off on Tuesday evenings for anyone working in the hospitality industry – from bartenders, waitresses, nurses and more. 

    By Alex Cloud 

    Anyone who has worked in the hospitality industry can relate to the feeling of not having time on weekends to socialise or to go out and enjoy nice food that isn’t the standard pub grub or takeaways we’re all too familiar with. It is for this reason that the team at Notions has decided to offer a discount for anyone in the industry. 

    James Walsh, the head chef at Notions, explained: “My vision of hospitality is very much this collaborative community of passionate people coming together and enjoying what we all have to offer.” 

    “We’re a new restaurant, so engaging with each other is important and not to mention, powerful.” 

    Notions located in Two Pups Café on Francis Street, Dublin 8. Photo credit: Alex Cloud

    The team has used social media and word of mouth to try and advertise the discount. Walsh said: “Obviously, we hope people come and enjoy the food, but we want them to come back, and of course, tell their friends. Come and try! You know?” 

    The restaurant sources all its ingredients from local farms and Irish producers encapsulating the love they share for food and supporting local. Dishes including steak and pepper sauce, fresh gnocchi pasta and a special where customers can try one of every dish available on the menu. 

    Walsh recently travelled abroad, which he said inspired some of the items on the menu, and of course, the NO FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) special. “I was recently in Lisbon, and there was so much going on that we decided, let’s find a way to have people try it all,” said Walsh.  

    “My training has been quite formal as I’ve worked in Michelin-level restaurants – so this is kind of like having fun with it, while still having the techniques behind the dishes and the complexity. It’s food I like to eat!” 

    Walsh explained that Dublin 8 is a blooming area and that they hope the discount brings everyone in and together, even just to network with one another. “I like to think it’ll be a way for people to get to know each other and maybe meet people in other areas of the industry as well,” he said.  

    Head chef James Walsh. Photo credit: Mayara Suzart
    Dinner set up at Notions. Photo credit: Mayara Suzart

    “Obviously, I work in hospitality, and I love going out to eat, so I just feel like it’s so important to support each other.”  

    The general manager of the establishment, Moses Rurwendwa, said: “I started off in Greystones and have since moved all the way up to Dublin. Since then, I’ve made so many connections – there is so much community here.” 

    “I love building on to this community for the future generations, the way it was given to me when I was coming up.” 

    Moses Rurwendwa behind the counter, setting up for the evening ahead. Photo credit: Alex Cloud 

    “It’s an amazing industry, but it’s hard, it’s not glamorous, there can sometimes be no thanks,” Walsh said. 

    The discount is available every Tuesday after 5pm, and anyone who works in hospitality can avail of it. The team even encourages anyone who comes in to try the NO FOMO menu. Rurwendwa explained that patrons can avail of the discount if they can prove they work in hospitality.  

    “Just come in and see what you miss out on while working weekends,” said Rurwenda. “Come enjoy yourself, with some good food, just the way everyone else does when we’re looking after them.” 

  • Irish hospitality reacts to new late licensing reform

    Irish hospitality reacts to new late licensing reform

    By Sadhbh McDonnell

    On the 25th of October, the Irish Government announced later closing times for pubs and clubs around Ireland, as part of a major new overhaul of licensing laws in Ireland.

    The new reform has been brought forward by Justice Minister Helen McEntee in hopes to modernise Ireland’s laws around nightlife, which can be seen as ‘outdated’ compared to several other neighbouring European Countries.  

    Since the reform proposal, the Government have additionally announced 433 Irish locations were granted The Night-Time Economy Support Scheme. Each location received up to €10,000 in funding.  

    While the people of Ireland will hopefully be allowed to stay out dancing as late as 6am across the country by 2023, what does this mean for workers within the Irish nightlife sector?

    Multi-Genre Electronic Music DJ Kaycee has played some of Ireland’s most infamous dance venues including Index, The Sugar Club, as well as popular Irish festivals such as Life festival in Belvedere, Co. Westmeath and Fuinneamh Festival in Dundalk Co. Louth. 

    A crowd of people at a concert Description automatically generated with medium confidence
    DJ Kaycee via Instagram

    In a recent interview with TheCity.ie, Kaycee explained how longer opening hours for clubs means there’ll be much bigger lineups for events, “which will be fantastic for local acts to be given a chance.” 

    Not only will this be beneficial for the growth of Ireland’s small dance scene but for DJs like Kaycee, it also means longer set times, giving them more time to showcase a larger variety of genres. 

    “It’s really an opportunity to bring the crowd on a journey through an exceptionally well-built set instead of cramming as many tracks in as possible.”

    Reactions to the proposed new opening hours for pubs and clubs have been widely positive, with many people agreeing that Irish nightlife could aid Ireland’s economic growth and aligns it with the rest of Europe’s nightlife culture. 

    However, this economic sector has been left decaying for so long that issues around transport, venues, accessibility, and safety have begun to surface. For the Irish economy to reap the benefits of this new legislation, the government must also modernise public services, with a large overhaul needed for the current existing structures. 

    A common concern for many DJs and workers in the hospitality sector is the lack of transport in and around Dublin city centre. 

    DJ Richard Tracey, who plays venues such as The Academy and Lost Lane weekly, discussed the need for better after-hour transport links. “The taxi service in Ireland is an absolute joke, particularly in Dublin.”

    He added that it’d be nice to have the option to leave the car at home and get a bus or taxi, to and from work, but the lack of taxis and public transport services makes it “next to impossible to find a lift home” on a Saturday night.

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    DJ Richard Tracey via Instagram

    Questions about how pub and club owners will accommodate their staff, working these unsociable hours, have also been a growing concern.

    TU Dublin student, David Bohan, who has worked in hospitality for over 3 years, admitted to the possibility of having to find new work outside the sector.  He explained how, like many people in the hospitality industry, working most days till 2-3AM, whilst needing to be up for a 9AM lecture, “would certainly have a negative effect on my studies.”

    It’s possible these new opening hours will remain a niche option for clubs, with most only availing of it for special occasions and big events.  However many hope in time, once most of the social concerns have been addressed, we will see Ireland showcasing talent from all around the world.