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Brothers Leagues Club awaits further easing of restrictions before reopening

The easing of restrictions at the weekend will do little to benefit Brothers Leagues Club other than give it more time to complete renovations.

Brothers Leagues Club has been doing a host of redevelopment work during the COVID-19 restrictions. CEO Justin Wilkins in the Garden Bar upgrade
Brothers Leagues Club has been doing a host of redevelopment work during the COVID-19 restrictions. CEO Justin Wilkins in the Garden Bar upgrade

The easing of the coronavirus restrictions will do little to benefit Brothers Leagues Club other than give it more time to complete renovations.

This weekend clubs across Queensland will be able to serve food to 10 people dining in at a time.

However bars and gaming rooms will remain closed.

While for many cafes and small restaurants it is a major win in the fight to stay afloat through the COVID-19 crisis, for local clubs it seems to bring little change.

Brothers Leagues Club chief executive Justin Wilkins said it would not be worth reopening the venue’s dine-in spaces at this stage.

He said the club would look to relaunch its takeaway food menu but would likely hold off opening its dine-in facilities until Stage 3 of the State Government’s plan, when the easing of coronavirus restrictions will allow for up to 100 customers.

That would leave the Kirwan-based club closed to diners until July 10 at the earliest.

“Allowing 10 people into the venue at one time will really not be beneficial. We will probably need more staff than customers,” Wilkins told the Townsville Bulletin.

“We’re contemplating reintroducing takeaway meals.

“We did do it for the first week but we will be looking at reintroducing it again.”

Major renovations with a budget of $3 million are underway at the club, with a new rooftop bar being installed and its kitchen being fitted out with new equipment.

The club had hoped to unveil its exciting new look to the public next month, but that appears unlikely.

“Our renos will completed at the end of this month but unfortunately we can’t really open to the public yet,” Mr Wilkins said.

State governing body Clubs Queensland has developed risk management documents to assist any clubs that plan to reopen the doors to diners this weekend. The documents will be sent out to all clubs this week.

Any venues that plan to open this weekend are required to have a COVID-19 Safe Plan in place.

Originally published as Brothers Leagues Club awaits further easing of restrictions before reopening

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/townsville/brothers-leagues-club-awaits-further-easing-of-restrictions-before-reopening/news-story/6ec9ccd839fca0d922d8fc1fd1682beb