The Tap on Mitchell bar reopens after temporarily closing for more than a week

After numerous staff were identified as close contacts, a busy Darwin CBD bar has reopened after being closed for more than a week.

A POPULAR Darwin CBD bar has reopened after making a snap decision to temporarily close due to staff shortages.

After multiple staff were informed they were close contacts, The Tap on Mitchell closed up shop more than a week ago.

The Tap on Mitchell street is open for business and the coffee is ready says barista Leah Gregory-Bader. Picture Julianne Osborne

Recently reopening their doors on Wednesday morning, duty manager Chloe Speake said the short-lived closure of the business was “based on the fact that we were short staffed”.

“I think almost all venues have had the same kind of issue and have had to close at some point,” Ms Speake said. “We thought it seemed like the smart thing to do for the safety of staff and patrons.”

With team morale remaining “awesome”, fortunately all staff members of the busy bar tested negative and were once again ready and “good to go”.

The crew took their last day of closed doors as an opportunity to give the venue some TLC, with eight staff members spending more than four hours collectively cleaning.

The Tap Bar on Mitchell ST staff gave their beloved workplace a bit of TLC and scrubbed the venue until it sparkled. Picture: Supplied

“Everybody was really excited yesterday (Tuesday) to get back in,” Ms Speake said.

“(We scrubbed) the roof, ceilings, floors, everything.”

Ms Speake would like to thank the community and patron support for their “patience and understanding”.

NT Hospitality chief executive Alex Bruce said staff shortages continued to impact business operations across the hospitality industry.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce at Hotel Darwin. Picture: Che Chorley

“Trade is still 60 per cent down as Territorians continue to be cautious in their movements,” Mr Bruce said.

“Now more than ever please consider supporting your favourite local Cafe, restaurant, watering hole or accommodation provider.”

UPDATE, EARLIER: AN overwhelming number of Territory hospitality businesses have been devastated by the latest CHO directives which mandate masks in venues and vaccine passports prior to entry.

A survey conducted by Hospitality NT found a black hole for businesses with patron numbers plummeting, staffing shortfalls and no end in sight.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce initiated the survey following reports from business operators and staff of hardship since the indoor mask mandate was reintroduced on New Year’s Eve in response to rising Covid cases.

He said the survey made an urgent case for government assistance to support hospitality operators and employees.

About 80 businesses, about 30 per cent of the sector, participated. Key survey findings include:

• 53 per cent devastated by a drop-off in trade of more than 50 per cent;

• 25 per cent have seen a significant decrease of between 30 and 50 per cent;

• 50 per cent of businesses anticipate a significant downturn of more than 30 per cent to continue over the next few months;

• Another 30 per cent of businesses are expecting a decline in trade over the next few months;

• 77 per cent of hospitality businesses are experiencing workforce shortages exacerbated by staff isolating;

• More than 260 hospitality staff are in isolation.

The survey confirms what operators are saying anecdotally about the impacts of the mandate, says Alex Bruce.

He said the government must consider direct financial assistance or relief on fixed costs such as electricity or payroll tax.

Wage subsidies, such as JobKeeper, should also be considered.

Tap Bar closes doors

ICONIC Darwin watering hole Tap Bar has temporarily shuts its doors, with no reopening date provided.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday morning, a spokesman for the Mitchell Street pub said the closure was due to “staff shortages”.

“We’ve had to close for now,” the post read.

“️We’ll keep you updated as soon as we can open again in the next coming days.”