OPEN AND CLOSED
AS CORONAVIRUS restrictions continue to ease, more and more bars and restaurants begin to open their doors. The Chronicle has compiled a list of who is set to reopen and who remains closed.
WITH July 10 set as the original date for Queensland’s stage three coronavirus restrictions, more Toowoomba bars and restaurants plan to reopen their doors to patrons.
The Chronicle spoke to three Toowoomba businesses which confirmed they would resume trade in the coming days and weeks.
The National Hotel
THE National Hotel closed its doors in March after the coronavirus outbreak, but owner Grant Wheeler said the venue would open soon.
He has recently returned from NSW where he was reopening his venues in Dubbo and Albury, and Mr Wheeler said the National was next.
“We won’t be back to full normality but a little bit of normality,” Mr Wheeler said.
“July 10 was our original date to reopen but when the government brought the restrictions forward we couldn’t have everything ready.
“In a perfect world I’d love to open on Friday but at this stage it will probably be Monday, July 13.”
Hola
SPANISH tapas-style bar and restaurant Hola was open for six months before it had to close its doors due to coronavirus restrictions, but owner Aaron Goldie said he was excited to reopen this weekend.
“We’ve made a few changes inside and we’re looking forward to people checking those out,” Mr Goldie said.
“We’re going to have a lot heavier focus on cocktails than we have before.
“We’re going for a more premium cocktail destination with tapas.”
Being a “very winter focused” venue, Mr Goldie said it was disappointing to miss the first month of winter.
“But we’re excited to be back up and running,” he said.
“People can come in out of the weather, sit in front of the fire and have some tapas and some cocktails.”
Hola opens on Saturday.
George Banks
ROOF top bar George Banks is yet to open its doors, but owner Phil Coorey said it wouldn’t be too far away.
“I’m working on reopening,” he said.
“It’s not going to be July 10, we’ve got to work a few things out before then.
“It’s about restructuring, but we’ll probably only be opening four days a week at this stage, Thursday-Sunday.”
Mr Coorey said he should have an opening date set in the coming weeks.