RIVERLAND venues will be able to host up to 300 people starting this Friday as the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on the hospitality industry continues.
Restaurants, cafes, wineries, pubs, breweries and bars will be able to host as many as 75 people per room up to a total of 300 people, but must still abide by density requirements of one person per four square metres.
From June 29, the cap on patronage will be removed, though density requirements will remain in place.
Berri Hotel manager Jeremy Sweet said he welcomed the latest easing of restrictions.
“Currently we have rooms that are 20-person capacity, so in essence it’s giving us an extra two-thirds trade,” he said.
“Hopefully with increasing numbers, there will also be an increase in confidence as well.”
Mr Sweet said it was important restrictions on the hospitality industry were rolled back in stages and eased safely.
“I’m a firm believer that you have to walk before you can run,” he said.
“If SA Health, SAPOL and the Government say that 75 people and one in four is okay, then we are happy to oblige – it is more people through our door and we’re doing it in a safe manner.
“The 80 people (venue limit) was a great start. I think having the limit of 300 people being the next step is welcomed, and we’re also looking forward to the easing on June 29 when there is no venue cap.”
The latest easing of restrictions comes just two weeks after most venues were allowed to reopen.
Mr Sweet said the advice the hotel had received from the State Government had been “superb” throughout the rolling back of the restrictions originally introduced in late March.
“(The rules) have changed frequently, but I must admit the correspondence we’ve received from SA Health and the AHA (Australian Hotels Association) has been superb and the advice has been nice and clear for us to follow,” he said.
Mr Sweet said he was looking forward to being able to host more patrons in the hotel.
“We’re a big hotel and it did look a bit empty at times with only 80 customers, but it was still fantastic to have people back in the venue,” he said.
“I’m looking forwards to the flexibility of welcoming more people back.
“We’ve been running two sittings to try and accommodate as many locals as possible that want to come out, but to be able to have more freedom with that will be good.
“The demand has still been high, traditionally we are heading into a quieter winter period, but the demand is still there for people wanting to come out which has been fantastic.”