Pubs across New South Wales celebrate a refreshed St Patrick’s Day as coronavirus restrictions ease and patrons are permitted to stand and revel.
The new rules came into effect across the state Wednesday after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the relaxation of rules prohibiting standing would proceed as flagged last month.
“It’s a game-changer,” says Peter Calligeros, whose stable of pubs include North Sydney’s Rag & Famish and Surry Hills’ Trinity.
Many of the Calligeros collection are typical of the classic corner pub and the man reports they have suffered “awfully” during the restrictions, still 40 per cent down on turnover across departments across the group.
Calligeros was one of selected publicans consulted on what should come next in easing restrictions, and the preference was decidedly to allow drinking while standing.
“Traditional corner pubs were all built with public bars and lounge bars and they’re still primarily the same framework,” he says.
“My hotels are not big operations, and I can’t be a restaurant anymore … with my floorplate I need people to be able to stand and consume.”
The decline in revenue from restricted patronage has had many hotels in limbo, keeping up with banks and creditors and staff only to be left feeling like an employer for the government, with revenue akin to a quiet week-night.
“But I’m doing a Tuesday every day,” says Calligeros.
In February the Premier tipped the eased restrictions pending no further outbreaks, and while some mysterious positives including a security guard at a quarantine hotel have broken NSW’s envious run of days without infection, Berejiklian has not been deterred and pushed ahead with the change.
The Premier’s office has also been fielding concerns that some countries have suspended rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine following early reports some recipients developed blood clots, while the Premier herself demonstrated clear support for the jab.
“I have full confidence in the vaccine and I have full confidence in our health experts,” Berejiklian told reporters. “I certainly wouldn’t have taken it if I hadn’t done my homework – which I have – and I feel completely safe.”
Feedback from hoteliers suggests the easing comes none too late as people crave normality and care less each day in the light of no community cases for nearly two months, which has realistically come about after dogmatic controls.
“Today’s announcement is another wonderfully positive milestone for NSW, and a testament to the state government’s safe and pragmatic handling of the COVID crisis,” Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes told PubTIC.
“We’re so excited that people can safely stand up and socialise in venues again; this has always been such a massive part of the hospitality experience, and its return will help to build up the energy and vibrancy of our city.”
The new key benchmark for most venues now becomes the limit of one person per two square metres, although the calculated space takes in the entire footprint, thus greatly increasing capacity over seated-only patronage.
Calligeros suggests the increase – coming on St Patrick’s Day, and contextually comparable to New Year’s Eve – will make a major difference to pub businesses, and hopefully lift takings across his group by 20 per cent.
“I’d say for the majority of the industry that don’t have big pubs or big beer gardens, it’s enormous.”
AHA NSW Director of Liquor and Policing John Green suggests drinking while standing is “the Aussie way” and has been sorely missed.
“Everyone loves having a drink with mates at the bar. For many hoteliers and patrons today’s announcement will be the most significant relaxation since the pandemic began.”
But despite the uplift, many in the industry are still concerned with the viability of many hotels after JobKeeper wraps up this month, suggesting the continued reduced capacity will likely translate into relative reduced employment.
“We need to remember, however, pubs are still doing it tough with JobKeeper about to end and venues still at 50 per cent capacity,” added Green.
Good article in defence of the industry . The message of how tough hotels are doing it needs to be reinforced and put out there for all to hear. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Congratulations