Pubs open but D-Day looms for hoteliers
The return to South Australia’s pubs has been a subdued affair this weekend and hoteliers are now anxiously awaiting the next step in the government’s reboot plans.
Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Drinks all round: Pubs open after booze backflip
- Show goes on after wine business takes a bath
- Latest subscriber-exclusive giveaways, specials and prizes
After two months of shutdown, the reopening of the state’s pubs yesterday was a more subdued affair than you might expect, more hesitant toast than a wild “cheers big ears” celebration.
And aside from the cold beer or favourite drop of red one thing was clear, it was a pub schnitzel and chips many had missed most.
However while glasses were being raised in some locations, dozens and dozens of venues, including favourite suburban waterholes and Adelaide Hills pub gems, contacted or visited by the Sunday Mail hadn’t opened.
Many pub owners said the turnaround time – discovering at 4pm on Friday they could open – was simply unworkable.
Adelaide bar Hains & Co owner Marcus Motteram said late backflip by the State Government to allow pubs, wineries and bars to serve alcohol with food had come as a surprise.
“We found out at 4.45pm on Friday we could have opened but we had just had our floors recovered – they’d just laid the new varnish on and couldn't be walked on for 24 hours,” he said.
“Also, our booth seats are off being recovered, so there is no way we could have opened.”
Instead, Mr Motteram said he planned to reopen his Gilbert Place venue this Friday.
The Kensington Hotel in Adelaide’s inner east was one of the hotels to re-open.
MORE NEWS
13 point plan to kickstart South Australia’s economy
Mapped: Who owns Adelaide’s west end
Hertz files for bankruptcy in US: What it means for Australia
And while it was unusually quiet inside, the smiles on the faces of patrons and staff left no doubt the lifting of restrictions was worth celebrating.
“We thought, ‘let’s go out and celebrate (a work win) and have a drink now we can’ – we’ll find a place for a drink and schnitzel,” Brett Coshell, of Kensington Gardens, said, dining with wife Aldona Pretty said, with daughter Ophelia, 11.
The family tried several pubs before discovering the “Kensi” was open.
Restaurant and function manager Amy Dreckon said despite it being “strangely quiet”, it was exciting to again be serving customers, including loyal regulars.
At the Arkaba, Fullarton friends Eleanor Kain and Alex Schutz were relishing in being out and about.
“It is nerve-racking, really, it is so quiet … I almost feel like we are doing something wrong,” Ms Kain laughed.
The vibe was a bit more “Friday night” at the Gilbert St Hotel in the CBD, with excited chatter and queues out the front.
Friends Erin Gold, Tom Booker and Tamara Hains were among those soaking up the atmosphere while appropriately distanced from other patrons.
“All our friends were calling us to ask if we’d heard pubs were reopening, everyone is really excited it is happening,” Ms Gold said.
Ms Hains added: “It is so good, just the normalcy of waking up and having a message from your friends saying, ‘hey, do you want to meet for a parmie and pint today?’”
For Nick Favaro, also at the Gilbert St Hotel yesterday, being able to have a cold beer with a mate hailed a step back to recovery and normal life.
“There is a lot more energy in the air … it is a great start, I am hoping it won’t take too long to get back to normal,” he said.
While at the Cumby in Waymouth St, part owner Ben Pearce was just pleased to be able to again serve a customer a meal on a “real plate” rather than a takeaway box.
“We can normally fit 700 people in here but I am not fussed with just 20,” he said.
For Andrew Williams, part owner of 1802 Oyster Bar in Coffin Bay on the southern Eyre Peninsula, the return of diners was a “massive relief”.
”We’ve struggled on and kept our doors open offering takeaway but to have customers come and with us is a massive relief,” he said.
While at Prancing Pony Brewery in the Adelaide Hills, patrons were circled through each hour between midday and 5pm, ahead of evening sessions. Jaimi-Lee Stevenson says while the preference would be for “lots of groups” at the bar, it is a “means to an end”.
D-Day for battling hoteliers
By Matt Smith
Monday is shaping as D-Day for the hospitality sector – and Premier Steven Marshall’s relationship with it.
With many licensed venues still finding it unviable to open with just 20 patrons, the sector is hoping for greater easing of restrictions.
Mr Marshall is expected to release guidelines Monday for how businesses and institutions can open with more people from June 5.
The guidelines are expected to allow venues such as churches, pubs, clubs, gyms and restaurants the ability to trade with more than 20 people by having patrons in different parts of the premises at one time.
“We are working over the entire weekend to get the guidelines ready and we are hopeful we will be able to get them out on Monday,” Mr Marshall said.
“I think the continued good performance, in terms of no or low new cases, and high levels of testing are giving us a lot more confidence to be more generous with the concessions.
“We have only recorded one new case in 31 days, and that is a really good position to be in.”
Australian Hotels Association state chief Ian Horne, who last week called for the State Government to allow licensed venues to have 50 or more patrons at a time to ensure they were viable, said Mr Marshall had set expectations high on new guidelines.
“We are hopeful the State Government can deliver the best level of relief and increased capacity in the country,” he said.
Mr Horne said the easing of restrictions on Friday, courtesy of a last-minute backflip by the Government, already meant “heaps of pubs opening”.
“Country pubs are particularly relieved and delighted. It has lifted their spirits.”
Mr Marshall said new guidelines would extend beyond the hospitality sector.
“Every sector of the entire economy is looking for guidance, whether it be churches, sporting organisations, community clubs, beauty salons, gyms, restaurants, bars, cafes or pubs,” he said.
“Everybody is looking for guidance but, as I have repeatedly said, it is much easier to put restrictions in place than it is to remove them.
“It would be very simple to remove all restrictions, but, of course, that has consequences.”