Adelaide CBD venues say they’ll refuse Premier Steven Marshall entry in protest over Covid restrictions

Steven Marshall has eased density restrictions but some hospitality venues say it’s not enough – and are so angry they won’t allow him entry for a beer or coffee.

Angry hospitality business owners say they will refuse entry to Premier Steven Marshall from their venues as they continue to struggle with crippling Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr Marshall announced on Friday the easing of hospitality density limits, with capacity boosted to 50 per cent for indoor and outdoor seated dining and drinking, up from 25 per cent.

But SA operators say the changes don’t go far enough and have warned Mr Marshall he isn’t welcome at their venues, displaying a poster with his photo and the words “Management reserves the right to refuse entry.”

The poster being put up by Adelaide hospitality businesses. Picture: Supplied.

The poster at the Mistress Mabel cafe. Picture: Supplied.

Jacob Booth, owner of CBD cafe Mistress Mabel, said he would not let Mr Marshall enter his business given the stifling restrictions imposed by the state government on the hospitality sector.

“Steven Marshall is not welcome in my business as he has (since the beginning of this pandemic) and continues to display complete and utter contempt for the industry in which I operate,” he said, adding the Premier had previously visited the cafe and enjoyed a toastie.

The Advertiser understands venues can refuse entry or service to anyone as long as the decision is not based on discriminatory grounds.

And at the Duke of Brunswick. Picture: Supplied.

...and on a wine bar. Pics: Supplied.

Hospo Owners Collective co-founder Simone Douglas said she would not serve Mr Marshall at her hotel, the Duke of Brunswick.

“We can’t serve him with a formal barring notice but ‘management reserves the right’ has stood the rest of time. Whilst many may tell us it’s a childish stunt, the reality is we have tried everything else,” she said.

“We have been articulate, reasonable and compliant for 676 days and counting, yet even now our premier doesn’t actually have a plan.

“We see him at ‘death-by-press-conference’ daily and if he can’t give us a path out of this with dates and milestones then we aren’t interested in his patronage.”

The Woolshed, Dog and Duck, The Precinct and Black Bull are among other venues which have put up the posters.

Mr Marshall’s office has been contacted for comment.

Next to the Wool Shed on Hindley St. Pics: Supplied.

And the Dog and Duck in Hindley St. Pics: Supplied.