HUGH SCHUITEMAKER  and PETA-MARIE PHILIPPOU

COVID-19 restrictions imposed on South Australia cost Riverland hospitality outlets their “busiest days” of trading over the weekend, although operators are thankful the hard lockdown was ended earlier than initially planned.
Hotels and clubs across the region were forced to close from midnight on Wednesday, November 18, until Sunday, due to State Government restrictions surrounding COVID-19 cases in Adelaide.
However, Loxton Club manager Andre Angeleski initially expected hospitality venues would be closed for a two-week period.
“We had a fair loss of trade over those few days but in saying that we’re fairly happy that it was only three days, (because) we thought we would be shut for two weeks,” Mr Angeleski said.
“Going from 14 days to three, (the staff) are pretty happy.
“We threw away a small about of food but nothing too substantial. We were able to minimise (the) wastage that we had to throw out.”
Renmark Hotel general manager Darren Baker said being able to return to higher patron limits would now be crucial for Riverland hotels and clubs.
“We would like to be able to have a few more people,” Mr Baker said.
“But rules are rules and that’s what it is. We can’t do much more about that.
“We’ve just got such a big venue and there is a high running cost.
“It’s such a big facility and people forget we’ve still got to heat and cool it. Air-conditioning, lighting and maintenance costs a lot of money.”
Mr Baker said the Renmark Hotel’s Nanya restaurant – currently open from 7am until 2pm – would remain closed for dinner service.
“We’ve had to make some management decisions about how we can run the business as financially (efficient) as possible,” he said.
“The Nanya is a high running-cost area of our business and with only 100 people we have to spread the number of people and our resources efficiently.
“I know everyone wants The Nanya open, but at the same time when we’ve got full table service it does take a lot of people to run.
“From what we’re hearing, on December 1 it will be back open and we can go back to having one person per four-square metres, but having our numbers capped in each area which will help.”
Mr Baker said the majority of hospitality employees lost wages due to venues being closed on Friday and Saturday night.
“A lot of our staff are casual employees and they don’t have any entitlements. They didn’t get paid,” he said.
“It definitely hit hard for a lot of our employees and we’re thankful it was only three days instead of six.”
Mr Angeleski hoped current restrictions would have no effect on the Loxton Club’s ability to operate over Christmas.
“Fingers crossed with no community transmission we can go back to where we were a few weeks ago – that’s what we are looking forward to,” Mr Angeleski said.
“We have a lot of Christmas functions events booked and Mardi Gras events and they’re all dependent on the increased numbers of people in the venues.”