Territory bars keen to get back to operating under ‘new normal’ once coronavirus restrictions are lifted in June

TERRITORY cafes, pubs and clubs have welcomed news that restrictions on business will start being lifted from June, saying they can now start preparing for ‘the new normal’.

The Trader Bar’s Niccolo Maffezzoni is looking forward to pouring more espresso martinis when Territory bars are allowed to reopen. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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TERRITORY cafes, pubs and clubs have welcomed news that restrictions on business will start being lifted from June, saying they can now start preparing for “the new normal”.

The Trader Bar in Darwin City has scaled back to just selling takeaway coffees since the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions, but co-owner Andrew Giles said they were looking forward to getting back to slinging cocktails.

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“We’ve effectively converted to a seven-day coffee shop to keep staff employed and keep cash flow going,” Mr Giles said. “

At least having a date is good news. We can plan towards that.

“We’ll be ready to sling some cocktails and some good times.”

Mr Giles said he was still cautious of keeping Territorians safe and prepared to comply with “whatever regulations are put in place”.

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Bar supervisor Niccolo Maffezzoni said he was grateful he was able to stay in work as, not being a permanent resident, he was not eligible for government assistance.

“They put in a really big effort to keep the bar open and let me be employed,” he said.