The team at popular Valletta bar Café Society appeals for calm as new measures are implemented. They took to Facebook to announced that for the time being they will be closing their doors.

“In the interest of public safety and until clearer guidelines are issued, Café Society will be temporarily closing its doors,” the management said earlier today. “Whilst we technically do have a license to also serve food, we are currently not geared up to offer you guys something of the quality or standard we are accustomed to delivering, so rather than serving something of inferior quality, we are happy to get to that drawing board and start cooking up something delicious."

“We’d like to say that we really do appreciate the government’s efforts to try to keep as many places as possible operational. For those who are screaming Blue Murder and calling for places to be shut down please understand that it is not as simple as that. Peoples' livelihoods depend on these establishments. Bars are not just a place where people go to do stupid things that they will regret in the morning,” they share.

“Bars are places where relationships are built, where people can indulge in music and good conversation, where they can step off the hamster wheel for a few hours and let their mind wander to the places that matter. Bars are where people fall in love, they are the places where we go to celebrate the best of times, and where we drown our sorrows in the worst of times.”

“Bars are an integral part of the fabric of our culture, Malta’s bar scene has flourished in the past few years and have put Malta on the World map as a destination of excellence, it is not just a matter of shutting down.”

“Whilst we are in a lucky position to take a seat at the side lines and strategize, some others are dying,” they explain. “So, here’s an appeal to you, when the guidelines are issued, keep a level head and try to play ball as much as possible. The authorities are trying their best to keep all the pint glasses on the tray while they are negotiating their way through this crowded quagmire that is the Pandemic.”

“We all need to play our part so that extreme measures don’t have to be taken . With your help establishments can stay open and soon enough we will all be talking about this like a distant memory over a fresh Basil Fawlty,” they quip.