SA Police revoke shutdown orders for Prancing Pony Brewery and Lot 100
There was barely enough time for a celebratory dance before the first customer showed up to a Hills brewery after police withdrew a shutdown order.
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The “we are back” sign at the reopened Prancing Pony had only just been positioned outside the front doors when the first patron arrived.
But that still gave co-owner Corinna Steeb enough time to do a celebratory jig upon learning the Totness brewery could again trade.
SA Police today announced it was withdrawing its forced shutdown direction issued to Hills-based breweries Prancing Pony and Lot 100 as part of eased coronavirus restrictions.
The new direction allows wineries, cellar doors, breweries and distilleries to sell takeaway alcohol, food or other products similarly to cafes, restaurants and hotels.
“Within two minutes of opening we had our first customer coming through – that was immediately after we did our little dance in the car park,” Ms Steeb said.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens announced the decision after extensive consultation with SA chief public health officer Dr Nicola Spurrier.
Ms Steeb told The Advertiser she was extremely relieved at the decision to withdraw the direction.
“It allows us to generate some income to look ahead into the future and continue employing our people,” she said.
Ms Steeb said she did not intend to pursue the matter any further and held no resentment towards police.
“This was never about anything else other than to be treated equally. I’m so glad that the wineries can now have their restrictions lifted as well,” she said.
“These are unprecedented times and sometimes directions are made without necessarily seeing all the consequences.
“I’m sure police made this decision thinking they were doing the right thing.”
Mr Stevens said SA Police had received correspondence from both Prancing Pony and Lot 100 breweries.
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He said he believed the directions issued to the breweries at the time were both lawful and appropriate in the circumstances.
“We see this as a slight relaxation of the imposition so these businesses can continue to trade as they would like to and as much as possible in the current circumstances,” Mr Stevens said. “It’s a recognition of the fact that so many people did the right thing over the Easter long weekend.”
Mr Stevens said he sympathised with businesses subject to the directions and the effect this had on the community.
“They’re not made lightly and they’re done with the intent on slowing the spread of the virus in the South Australian community,” he said.
“So far we’ve seen excellent results as a result of people’s willingness to comply with those directions.”