THE DUBLIN bar at the centre of massive controversy last year after pubs and restaurants reopened has had its license revoked.
Berlin D2 on Dame Lane sparked outrage last summer for its 'boozy brunch' where customers were filmed dancing together while a masked bartender swung from the bar, pouring shots into people's mouths directly from the bottle.
The footage was filmed during bar’s controversial “A Very Boozy Baked Brunch With Your Buds” event, which included a DJ, and which had 46 guests in attendance.
Footage has emerged on social media of people failing to comply with public health guidance over Covid-19 at a bar in Dublin. | https://t.co/CtEjGwqHnC pic.twitter.com/1OJcpbGPpQ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) August 16, 2020
Speaking in defence of the widely criticised scenes at the time, the bar’s manager Jay Bourke insisted the clip represented “20 seconds of madness”; the bar closed for a week for staff to undergo retraining and a sign saying 'sorry we messed up' was painted on the outside of the building.
In September, Gardaí said they would be submitting a formal objection to the bar retaining its license due to "non-compliance with Covid regulations".
Now the bar has effectively been closed down as, in a hearing this week, the judge revoked Berlin D2's liquor license, meaning they will no longer be allowed to serve alcohol of any kind.
It has also had its restaurant, theatre, dance, public music and singing licenses revoked.
As reported by The Journal, Judge Marie Quirke delivered a scathing criticism of the bar, noting how the Covid-19 guidelines were completely flaunted in August last, with no social distancing or masks and drinks served at the bar instead of table services.
It was also found that the bar had been caught breaching restrictions again weeks later, when undercover customs officers went to the bar and were encouraged to stay after the 105-minute limit.
The bar admitted the breaches.
