Helping hospitality venues during COVID

HOSPITALITY venues are encouraging people to be aware of COVID-safe requirements when eating out.

On Sunday, October 11, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced hospitality venues in regional Victoria that failed to check customer IDs would face fines of up to $9,913.

Bomboras Torquay co-owner Tom McGrath said businesses must be particularly diligent in enforcing this rule.

“If the excuse won’t hold up for us if the police come and fine us $10,000, then that excuse can’t hold up for them,” said Mr McGrath.

“We’re bearing the brunt of a few people not happy with it. If we’re being put in a position where we have to upset someone, or risk being fined $10,000, it’s a pretty easy decision.”

Beach Hotel owner Jamie Collins said the restricted number of diners per venue meant it was important customers followed protocol.

“When we’re allowed 20 in our venue and we have to turn a table of six away that’s a major issue,” Mr Collins said.

“We’ve got people coming down here saying they’re on a work permit, but a work permit doesn’t entitle you to have dinner inside a venue, so we have to turn them away.”

In late September Bomboras Torquay had two bookings, one for eight people and the other for nine, fail to arrive on a Saturday night without having notified restaurant to cancel.

But Mr McGrath said the majority of people had been mindful of the circumstance’s restaurants are operating under.

“People have actually been quite good about it. Some, if they had a large booking of over five or six were even offering to pay deposits. So, the response was very good.”

Mr Collins said he had noticed an improvement over time.

“The first lockdown on the first weekend, we probably turned away close to 100 people, all Melbourne residents.

“I know a lot of local venues down here have been experiencing the same problems. But probably the last couple of weeks it has improved.”

On Sunday, October 18 Mr Andrews announced an increase in hospitality venues caps.

While businesses are still clarifying the finer points of this announcement, Mr Collins said he was confident the Beach Hotel could welcome in more people without compromising safety.

“We can do it safely, and we proved it the first time. People would be safer in a venue with our sanitiser stations and cleaning measures.”