The Normanby, Grand Central Hotel reveal reopening date

The Brisbane pub baron who owns the historic Normanby and Grand Central hotels has announced a date for reopening, but he warns pulling the first pints will be just the beginning of a long road back to normality.

A PUB baron says pulling the first pints in his historic Brisbane hotels will be the first part of the “unwrapping of a story” of the sector’s recovery that could take as long as five years.

Jaz Mooney owns the Grand Central Hotel in Brisbane’s CBD, The Normanby Hotel in Red Hill, The Grand Hotel in Cairns plus one more pub in Sydney.

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His pubs have been closed for nearly nine weeks and he has been using the time to make renovations and upgrades — even as his Brisbane hotels lost $8 million in revenue.

As he prepares to reopen in June under the Stage 2 eased restrictions, Mr Mooney has warned it will be just the beginning for his pubs.

“We look forward, and I think I can say this on behalf of everybody, to welcoming back our great customers. We miss them — badly,” he said.

“This is going to be an unwrapping of a story that will be going on for two years three years, five years — who knows?”

Managing Director of Pelathon Management Group Jaz Mooney outside the Normanby Hotel. Pics Tara Croser.

He said there would be two factors now that would dictate the future of the struggling hospitality industry, where casualties would be inevitable.

“This change is a severe shock for everybody,” he said.

“I think if you were in trouble before the crisis then you probably will see a lot of businesses not reopening.

“Those two things, confidence and disposable spend, will be the real two things that play out in the six to 12 months and then after that it will be over to the banks,” he said.

“People want the pubs open — It’s whether people are going to come out in the way they came out before.

Jaz Mooney and Shaun Dunleavy at the newly renovated Normanby Hotel in Red Hill, in happier times. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

“Will people trade down, trade up, change their lifestyle?”

He said there were “talks going on at the minute” about whether pubs might be able to negotiate up the number of people allowed in during Stage 2 restrictions.

“We’re hoping the more the better for the viability of any business, without ever putting people’s lives in danger.,” he said.

“Everybody is the same. Nobody really understands the new regulations. They seem to change minute to minute which is to be expected I suppose.

Jaz Mooney also owns the historic Grand Central Hotel in Brisbane’s CBD.

“We’re wondering when we will be able to run sustainable businesses with sustainable numbers of people in venue.

“We hope – and pray – that it’s more than 20, we’re hoping it will be 50 (under Stage 2).”

Mr Mooney, who is from Ireland, said that even as he hoped they would be allowed more patrons, all decisions needed to be in the best interests of public health.

“It’s very hard to comment on this when health is what’s driving it,” he said.

“(In Australia) We can become very insular,” he said.

“In the UK, America and Russia so many people have lost their lives. In Australia, people have lost their lives, but less so than other places around the world.

Pub owner Jaz Mooney, left, and Paul Fraser from CBRE at the Grand Central Hotel in Brisbane.

“I’ve so many people, friends who are in the hospitality industry in Ireland, and they are crushed.

“And they are severely crushed by the court of public opinion, which is that they should not be open and people should be isolating because people, especially older people, are dying.

“I understand the balance that needs to be drawn here.”

Mr Mooney said the changes had been “a severe shock” for sector.

“All I know is this is going to hurt: health-wise, socially wise, business wise,” he said.

“It’s just going to be a struggle.

“If we were working hard before, which good hospitality people do, and ours are no limits, we’re going to be working doubly hard in this next period of time.

“With that comes stress, strain, all those things that go with uncertainty.”