LAST DRINKS, GEELONG
IT was bottoms up at the city’s watering holes on Wednesday as venues such as the Norlane Hotel served their last drinks for at least six weeks.
From Thursday restaurants, cafes and bars will not be permitted to have sit-in diners and will revert to a takeaway-only tk model as Stage 3 coronavirus restrictions are re-enforced across regional Victoria.
Norlane Hotel manager Margaret Spence said it was disappointing to have to close for a second time in a matter of months.
“We were slowly getting on track and now we are back to where we started from,” Ms Spence said.
While punters won’t be able to have a drink or meal inside, they can still purchase classic takeaway pub meals such as a chicken parma to enjoy at home.
The 18th Amendment and Manhattan Bar owner Gorge Camorra said the second lockdown would be a hit to the local hospitality industry.
“For the last six weeks having 20 (people in the venue) has barely covered costs,” Mr Camorra said.
“It was just playing catch and now to be hit again, I still haven’t caught up with the bills from the first closure.”
Mr Camorra said businesses like his, that could not pivot toward a takeaway model, would struggle even more.
“Just mentally it’s draining – it’s very, very stressful,” he said. “We are running online cocktail classes just to survive.”
Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Monday businesses in regional Victoria that suffer significant losses or need to close as a result of the current restrictions would be eligible for a $5000 grant through the expanded Business Support Fund.