The George Hotel has decided to stay shut for the time being as restrictions start to ease on attendees at pubs and restaurants.
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But that doesn't mean the venue is void of any activity; in fact, far from it.
The venue is in the process of renovating their front function room to accommodate cafe facilities and further grow their breakfast menu, which was introduced last year.
"It's a big job, but we've always wanted to get this done," George Hotel owner and licensee Matt Harrowsmith said.
"We're putting in new bay windows with a bench identical to the spot near the main bar, and we're rearranging the function room to provide patrons with another attractive space to relax."
"The key challenge will be ensuring everyone's safety and adapting our setup to accommodate social distancing."
- Matt Harrowsmith
Mr Harrowsmith said the decision to 'mothball' the venue in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions has provided ample time to work on the business.
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"My business partners and I have been meeting every week to discuss how we're going to reopen the venue with the view that things will be different," he said.
"In my view, hospitality businesses will have to adapt or die, and if you think you're going to be trading the same way you were pre-restrictions, you've got rocks in your head."
Mr Harrowsmith said the venue will place significant focus on hygiene, spacing and capacity when it eventually reopens.
"We've built our business model around a full venue, but we understand we'll have to adjust to a more health-conscious world," he said.
"The key challenge will be ensuring everyone's safety and adapting our setup to accommodate social distancing."
Despite the challenges, Mr Harrowsmith said the venue has prioritised the welfare of employees during the COVID-19 period.
"We've looked to keep as many people in a job as possible, and we're well prepared to emerge successfully on the other side," he said.
"We have some staff on working visas who weren't able to access JobKeeper payments, but we're doing what we can to work something out with them."
The venue has continued PUBlic Choir and trivia online during the lockdown.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
