CBD hotel closes bistro as virus fears bite into trade

IT WAS Friday, as Tatts Hotel owner John Clarkson described to his staff, which was the day "the world went mad".

IT WAS Friday, as Tatts Hotel owner John Clarkson described to his staff, which was the day "the world went mad".

"The Grand Prix in Melbourne was cancelled... it seemed like that was the start of the panic. And our food business declined rapidly from there," he said. 

Today Mr Clarkson, after spending 10 years building up the Tatts Hotel's bistro into a popular dining spot, made the difficult decision to temporarily close it. 

The pub will remain open on Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm for people wanting to have a drink and a dance. 

"Unfortunately there's been a large drop off of our regulars, and a large drop off of our takeaway (food) sales," Mr Clarkson said. 

"After the Prime Minister's press conference (Wednesday), that once again caused a further drop in bookings and trade at the bistro."

Mr Clarkson said that over the space of a week, it had very quickly come to the point where it was no longer financially viable to keep the bistro open. 

"Next week on Thursday marks 10 years ago to the day that we re-opened a closed hotel. We built that food business from zero over those ten years because it had never been known as a place to come and eat for many years.

Tatts Hotel owner John Clarkson talks about the impact coronavirus is having on the business and the decision to close the bistro side of the hotel, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Picture: Kevin Farmer

"We've got it to a stage where it was a very successful food business, and we'll hope to do the same again.

"So it was a very tough decision to have to tell our casual staff that for the next period of time, they no longer have work."

The bistro's stock will be used to provide cooked meals to Tatts staff and their families. 

In the meantime, Mr Clarkson said "alcohol was the answer". 

He said the downstairs section of the pub would be able to operate under then 100 person restriction imposed by the Federal Government, with social distancing applied. 

"And probably 50-75 upstairs, once again allowing for regulations," he said.

"There'll be a barrier put up between downstairs and upstairs and the flow of people will be restricted." 

Mr Clarkson said the mood among publicans in town was cautious, but optimistic.

"Look, I think that we are obviously having to remain optimistic, that this is only happening to the entire world for a period of time, however we are concerned, I suppose, as an industry, that we or Australia will follow suit in regards to the total closures of pubs, clubs, hotels, and so right at this very moment we are looking at making the most of keeping open in some degree," he said. 

Tatts Hotel owner John Clarkson (right) and son Zach Clarkson talk about the impact coronavirus is having on the business and the decision to close the bistro side of the hotel, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Originally published as CBD hotel closes bistro as virus fears bite into trade