Regal Cinema’s Hula Hoop bar opens a (cellar) door for virus-hit winemakers
The coronavirus may have cast a dark cloud over many of South Australia’s wine industry but another local business also feeling the pain is doing what it can to keep it in the limelight.
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An eastern suburbs bar is giving small SA wineries hard hit by the coronavirus their moment in the spotlight.
Jonathon Hamra, who owns Hula Hoop cocktail and wine bar at the Regal Cinema in Kensington Park, has turned his bar into a cellar door for 25 SA makers forced to close their doors during the pandemic but too small to appear on retail shelves.
The cinema, which is owned by Burnside Council, will be allowed to reopen under the planned easing of COVID-19 restrictions from Monday.
Mr Hamra said the temporary cellar door – which would give wineries an outlet to sell their produce – helped solve the question of how to attract customers under stage-two lifting of restrictions.
“The answer for us was Hula Cellars, partnering with 25 smaller SA makers who aren’t usually found on retail shelves to provide them with an outlet and us with customers,’’ he said.
Many smaller SA wineries – not big enough to have a presence in city retail outlets – lost their markets when COVID-19 cellar door closures struck. Adelaide Hills winemakers were also hit hard by the December Cudlee Creek bushfire.
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From Monday, small bars such as Hula Hoop will be permitted to have up to 80 customers, provided they have enough space to accommodate one per 4sq m.
“We really felt for the SA winemakers who are dealing with the loss of their restaurant trade, the closing of their own cellar doors and, for many, the aftermath of the summer bushfires,’’ Mr Hamra said.
“For the next few months, we will open Thursday to Sunday afternoon.
“Wine lovers will be able to taste and take home these beautiful wines made by these passionate local wine makers.’