The Peacock Inn’s huge revenue loss after links to street party
A popular pub has experienced huge ramifications after it was wrongly linked to a street party over the weekend, the owner claims.
A popular Melbourne pub has denied it was involved in a party which saw 200 people descend onto the streets of Northcote over the weekend.
The huge gathering took place hours after Premier Daniel Andrews pleaded with Melburnians not to disobey lockdown restrictions.
According to the Herald Sun, revellers were seen mask-less as they danced and drank beer and cocktails bought from shops on High St.
However, The Peacock Inn owner Andrew Gilbert said his business has unfortunately been dragged into the situation after images showed people hanging out the front of his pub.
He told news.com.au the family-run pub had nothing to do with the party with the business having been shut since August 5, when the city was plunged into its sixth lockdown.
“This(street party) is not something we condone at all,” he said.
“We follow Covid regulations as best we can and we always operate within Covid guidelines and take pride in being part of the Northcote community.”
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Mr Gilbert said not only has the pub been locked and not been serving takeaway, but all staff have been at home under lockdown orders, adding it’s not their responsibility to head out there and usher people along.
He explained that due to claims the pub was affiliated with the street party, he has seen a huge loss in revenue, totalling about $30,000.
“I’ve already had three people requesting to cancel future functions which is about $5,000 to $10,000 worth of revenue for each event — and they have already made up their minds that they are not having their function here,” he said.
Mr Gilbert said the hotel has been experiencing a loss in profits since March last year, adding that the repercussions from the street party has added further fuel to fire.
He said he is also getting inundated with cruel emails and social media messages telling him he should be “ashamed” of himself.
“Having a street party at your door during a medical crisis is disgraceful — shame on you,” one email read.
“Thx for ur contribution to extending the Melbourne lockdown. Hope you lose your licence,” another said.
Mr Gilbert said he, together with his family, spent 14 years building the business from the ground up and to have something like this affect its future in just 24 hours, is truly heartbreaking.
“I am hurt, it’s awful,” he said.
It comes after the state recorded 22 new cases on Monday, with just 14 people in isolation during their infectious period.