The co-owner of Jersey Kitchen, Tony Sargeant, said the company was upbeat about a potential return to full service if the government moved to downgrade restrictions again, something that is due to be discussed this week.
After meeting States Members, Mr Sargeant said: ‘The States have listened to our concerns and we hope to resume our normal outdoor catering service for events and weddings.’
The company has been unable to offer its outdoor service throughout lockdown and changed its operation to provide pre-packed BBQ food and grazing platters instead.
Mr Sargeant said that the return of large outdoor events would mean implementing strict Covid-19 procedures and that the common goal remained maintaining the safest possible environment.
He said the company had contacted a security service to help ensure distancing rules were observed.
‘The introduction of security staff at a licensed event would allow us caterers to do our job rather than worry about the distancing rules.
‘It would not be a significant security presence like in pubs, but rather a few extra bodies to gently nudge anyone forgetting the rules.’
Mr Sargeant said that the company’s main concern was the States enforcing early curfews on events such as weddings, something that he said would be a ‘ridiculous scenario’.
He added: ‘If we are forced to shut events early, people will just pile into town pubs which causes more problems than it solves. I believe our outdoor marquee service is much safer than anything else.’
Ministers are due to receive advice from the Scientific and Technical Advisory Cell on whether to downgrade the Island’s status from Level Two given the current low levels of Covid-19 in Jersey. This could mean that gatherings of more than 40 people could resume.
Mr Sargeant said he hoped that a shift to Level One would allow him, and other companies, to salvage something from the remainder of the summer season.
‘We still have a couple of weddings in the book for late summer and hopefully we can coax some business from people hosting large garden parties and other events.’
