SUNRAYSIA pubs, cafes and restaurants are preparing to reopen, thanks to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
The Sandbar owner Malcolm Kalms said while it was good news it was still unclear how certain aspects of in-house dining would work at pubs.
Mr Kalms is waiting for detail on how long people could stay in a venue and whether something like a bowl of chips could be classified as a meal.
“The Australian Hotels Association is working on that now, so we’ll know later in the week exactly what we have to serve in order for you to get a beer,” he said.
From June 1 pubs, cafes and restaurants will be able to host up to 20 people in an enclosed space.
This number is set to increase to 50 from June 22 and to 100 during the second half of July.
Mr Kalms said said he was lucky The Sandbar was a large venue.
“We’ll take out every second table so there will be plenty of space in between and we’ve got the two big rooms so we can utilise that and have 20 people in each room,” he said.
“So there will be no issues for people coming in.”
The Sandbar is aiming to reopen on either Wednesday, June 3, or Thursday, June 4.
“We’ll pretty much open four to five days at the start and then we’ll see how it goes from there,” Mr Kalms said.
Other businesses that decided to close temporarily are looking forward to reopening.
Irymple’s Cafe Romantica announced on its Facebook page at the end of March that it would close while COVID-19 restrictions were in place.
Cafe Romantica owner Eleanor Rademeyer said the cafe was planning to reopen on Monday, June 1, thanks to the easing of restrictions.
“We just hope for the best,” she said.
“We’re going to do everything to comply with the rules and regulations.”
In the meantime, Ms Rademeyer said, the cafe was hoping to start offering takeaway service as early as next week.
Mr Kalms said he was excited about The Sandbar reopening.
“We can finally get our doors back open, get our staff back and get us off the couch so it’s great,” he said.
Pubs weigh up next move
SOME pubs in the Mildura region are set to reopen on June 1, but others remain undecided about whether it will be worth their while to allow in only 20 patrons at a time.
The Victorian Government’s decision to allow up to 20 patrons to dine in pubs, clubs, cafes or restaurants has been welcomed by the hospitality industry, but larger venues may elect to wait until restrictions are eased further to allow up to 50 patrons.
Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged June 22 as a date when restrictions could be further eased if coronavirus cases remained low in Victoria.
Mildura’s Gateway Tavern is holding a board meeting on Wednesday to discuss its plans, while Mildura RSL will be meet bistro staff on Wednesday, with a decision expected later this week.
Mildura Working Man’s Club decided on Tuesday that it would reopen on June 1 and start a takeaway service.
Club chief executive Jill Fleming said the initial restriction of 20 patrons would allow staff to become familiar with new workplace practices.
“It will be a whole new ball game for our staff, so for that reason it is a good way to get used to the changes and new guidelines that will be in place,” Ms Fleming said.
“The virus isn’t going away so we need to prepare and change the way we do business, so we will start with this limit of 20 and then open up as the government allows.”
Mildura RSL manager Kim Archibald admitted allowing only up to 20 patrons would make it “very difficult to make it profitable”.
“But we are going to crunch some numbers and we will be considering it,” Mr Archibald said of reopening for meals on June 1.
He said the State Government’s hope to open up for 50 patrons later in June was a far more viable option.
“That would certainly change things and we would be confident at that point,” he said.
“Everyone is eager to get back to the norm and get back to having a beer and a meal — and interacting with their friends.”
The Mildura RSL has still been providing services to veterans and widows by way of welfare and pension support throughout the pandemic.
“We have staff on deck still undertaking those duties and we have other staff engaged on small hours here and there in preparation for the opening,” Mr Archibald said.
“The Mildura RSL is OK, we are financially well placed to see it through, but it has been terribly difficult, you can say that again.”
For venues such as Club Merbein, until gaming is operational again, it will be a “long way back to anywhere near normal”.
Manager Sharan Scase said the club had “zero indication” when bans on gaming machines may be lifted.
“That makes it very difficult, not only for us, but also the people who lease us the machines,” Ms Scase said.
But Club Merbein is set to open for meals when restrictions ease on June 1.
“We have been open for takeaway meals for a few weeks now, so seeing that we are doing that, it should enable us to also open for the 20 patrons as well,” she said.
“We also have a function room, which is a separate room which might enable us to get another 20, so that is the plan we are working on.
“It’s definitely better than nothing.”
