Coronavirus: pubs with no cheer out in the cold

Victoria risks losing hundreds of pubs, bars and clubs after its government failed to include hospitality in a list of industries returning to work ahead of schedule.

Hawthorn’s Glenferrie Hotel owner Mark O’Reilly is desperate to reopen safely as soon as possibe. Picture: Aaron Francis

Industry bodies warn Victoria risks losing hundreds of pubs, bars and clubs after the state government failed to include the sector in a suite of industries allowed to return to work ahead of schedule.

Australian Hotels Association (Victoria) president David Canny said businesses were taking on an unsustainable level of debt, which was jeopardising the security of more than 50,000 jobs.

“We are, and have always been, strongly committed to the health and safety of our patrons and staff,” he said.

“But we need to be able to operate in a financially viable way, much like others in the retail ­sector.”

Announcing 27,000 Victorians would be able to return to work ahead of schedule, the revamped road map unveiled by Daniel Andrews on Sunday did not bring forward scheduled easing for pubs, clubs and bars.

A woman is seen in an almost empty Little Bourke Street in Melbourne on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

According to modelling prepared by the Burnett Institute, easing all restrictions now would see the chance of a coronavirus third wave increase by 41 per cent.

But Mr Canny said allowing businesses to reopen with a COVID-19 safe plan, like in NSW, would mean the state’s venues could reopen safely.

He said low case numbers in regional Victoria meant restrictions should be loosened, with the state’s temperamental weather making the 50-outdoor patron limit meaningless.

“You’re actually doing businesses damage by giving them some hope that they’re going to open,” he said.

“They prep up, they get staff back but they can’t get any capacity because it’s weather dependent … It’s a very poor business model.”

Since September 16, regional venues are allowed to serve 20 people inside and 50 patrons outside, with the restrictions set to last until zero cases are recorded in the whole of the state over a 14-day period.

Sydneysiders enjoying Circular Quay’s Opera Bar on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

Mark O’Reilly, who owns four venues including the Glenferrie Hotel in the east Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, said he wanted to reopen safely in preparation for Christmas.

“We need to get open soon, we’re not far from Christmas,” Mr O’Reilly said.

Stressing the sector’s willingness to comply with precautions against coronavirus, Mr O’Reilly said there was no reason hospitality couldn’t reopen with a COVID-safe plan similar to other industries such as manufacturing.

Melbourne venues are restricted to takeaway and delivery until the daily case average falls below five over 14-days, with less than five mystery cases seen over the same period.