Nightclub owners say they will not open because dancing is banned due to coronavirus restrictions

Tasmanian nightclubs are allowed to reopen from Friday, but owners of several popular night spots say it is not viable, because one key element of a night out is banned. See why.

REVELLERS looking forward to hitting the dancefloors of Hobart nightclubs this weekend are likely to be disappointed.

The third stage of easing Tasmania’s coronavirus restrictions, announced on Wednesday, applies from noon on Friday, with nightclubs among those permitted to reopen.

But patrons in places where alcohol is sold must be seated, meaning activities like dancing and eight-ball are not allowed.

And nightclub owners like Ivory Lounge Bar’s Sancia Porretta say this means it would not be viable for them to open their doors.

Sancia Porretta. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Miss Porretta said since the government’s announcement, she had been inundated with messages from people excited to go out, but posted on the bar’s Facebook page to inform them the Collins St nightspot would not be reopening.

“Nightclubs are for people to go and dance and enjoy themselves and have fun,’’ she said. “There’s music on so people naturally want to dance. It would be too difficult to control. It’s just not practical and it would have been easier if they said we couldn’t open.”

Miss Porretta said it would have been a contradiction to open a nightclub and tell people they could not dance.

Ian Vaughan, managing director of Pub Banc Group, which owns the Observatory nightclub, said the venue would stay shut for the same reason.

“If people decide they want to get up and dance because they don’t understand the rules, then it’s up to the staff, and they are not the dancing police,’’ he said. “Observatory won’t open until dancing is allowed.”

Mr Vaughan praised Premier Peter Gutwein for his efforts in managing the coronavirus crisis in general, but criticised what he described as inconsistencies in the rules.

Ian Vaughan. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“You can have 36 footballers wrestling on the ground for football, but you can’t boogie on the dance floor,’’ he said.

“It is confusing for the public. Once nightclubs open, people expect to be able to dance.”

But Mr Vaughan said the changed density requirements which will now allow for one person per two square metres, instead of four, would be welcome for his bar venues like Cargo, Jack Greene and Post St Social.

The Mercury understands another popular Hobart night spot, Mobius Lounge Bar, will also not be reopening.

Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief Steve Old said the industry would continue to work with government on potential future easing of restrictions.

MORE: NEW RESTRICTIONS ALLOW FOR 500 FANS WHEN COMMUNITY SPORTS REBOOT

Public Health Director Mark Veitch on Wednesday said there would still be constraints on people’s way of life, despite the relaxation of coronavirus restrictions.

“We’re not at a point where we’re moving back to normal,’’ he said.

“There are some constraints and some things that people perhaps want to do, or gather in greater numbers, that they will be limited from doing.”

Dr Veitch said there was a significant risk if a case of coronavirus was introduced into the Tasmanian population.

“We’re mixing much more freely than we have at any time over the last three or four months,’’ he said. “So if a case is introduced into the population, there’s a real risk that it spreads.”

Mark Veitch. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

He said, by their nature, the normal operations of nightclubs were a high-risk environment for the spread of COVID-19.

“This is because of the mixing of large numbers of people without social distancing, and the difficulty of tracing people when there is a case amongst them,” he said. “Like all restrictions, these will be monitored and reviewed.”