Big Queensland pubs to reopen for weekend after months of COVID-19 shutdown
Some of South East Queensland’s biggest pubs will reopen on Friday, but their boss says new COVID-19 rules make it “very complicated”.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
EASED COVID-19 restrictions will enable some of South East Queensland’s biggest hotels to reopen this week but their management is trying to work out how it will affect the bottom line.
Comiskey Group will reopen the huge Eatons Hill and Sandstone Point hotels on Friday, along with the smaller Beachmere Hotel, but has yet to determine when it can reopen the smaller Samford Hotel.
Comiskey Group director Rob Comiskey welcomed the eased restrictions but said working out how to operate while complying with COVID-19 rules was difficult.
“It’s good that restrictions are opening but some of the devil’s in the detail now,” Mr Comiskey said.
Under the new rules announced yesterday, venues must have approved COVID-safe plans and only 20 people will be allowed in each defined seating room.
And staff serving each 20-person section group cannot serve in another section.
Also, there can only be a maximum one patron for every 4 sqm.
Mr Comiskey said that meant all patrons would have to be seated and full table service provided.
“You’re talking a fine dining offer at a hotel rate. It’s labour intensive. I don’t know where my wages are going to sit,” he said.
“It’s very complicated.”
400 staff stood down and $60m in construction in doubt due to coronavirus
Major hotels to stay closed as boss says COVID-19 patron limits are unfair
More than 200 jobs could go at hotels as coronavirus hits concerts
He said they would set up rooms so there was at least the minimum 1.5m social distancing between patrons, and “well over” 4 sqm per person.
The numbers are still being run but at this stage the Comiskey Group is looking at being able to host 80 people at a time at Eatons Hill Hotel, about 140 at Sandstone Point Hotel, 50-60 at Beachmere Hotel and about 60 at Samford Hotel.
It is expected turnover at Eatons Hill Hotel under these rules would be just 30-40 per cent of typical trade. It would normally have about 3000 customers on a busy Friday or Saturday night.
But poker machines are still banned.
Mr Comiskey said it was easy to maintain social distancing in gaming rooms by keeping every second machine shut, and to disinfect them regularly.
“None can tell me why gaming can’t open,” Mr Comiskey said.
SEQ housing shake-up as new property giant rises
A property giant is emerging after its latest takeover was approved, paving the way for the conglomerate to become the largest housing developer in southeast Queensland.
Man sought psych help in hours before deadly hammer attack on own mum
A mentally ill man who killed his mother in a violent attack in her own home will be eligible for parole in 2.5 years, a court hearing he was preoccupied with ‘end of days perceptions’.