PUBS and restaurants across Bathurst are bustling with patrons, in a COVID-safe manner, as residents look to celebrate the end of 2020.
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It has been a tough year for individuals and businesses, who have struggled through the various impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, not to mention the bushfires at the start of the year.
To help send off 2020, Bathurst Regional Council introduced the Party at Your Local initiative and paid for musicians to perform at a number of local venues.
This initiative replaced the traditional Party in the Park and fireworks display, neither of which could go ahead due to the pandemic.
Hospitality businesses welcomed the new initiative, though, as it has helped them get more patrons into their premises after a year of significant hurdles.
Pantano's Bar and Grill owner Fiona Miller had both dining sessions booked out on Thursday night, with the restaurant planning to stay open until 12.30am.
"We're expecting to party on for quite a while," she said.
"I think everyone is very grateful for the fact that we can all celebrate with our families and our friends and that we don't have the same restrictions as other areas, which has added a real festive spirit to the night.
"We're all relieved to see 2020 go."
Adding to the atmosphere at Pantano's is Clancy Pye, who is scheduled to perform from 6pm to 9pm.
"She is absolutely brilliant. We are delighted that we have her. She's perfect for the crowd," Ms Miller said.
"We're very impressed with her and very impressed with council and the initiative of them supporting us in putting her on."
She has enjoyed the initiative so much that she plans to offer live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
She would also like to see council incorporate Party at Your Local into council's future New Year's Eve events, to complement Party in the Park.
"It could be added to the fireworks, added to the Adventure Playground," Ms Miller said.
"The Adventure Playground is really for families, whereas this is more for couples and for older people."
Once the patrons head home after midnight, the staff at Pantano's plan to have a quiet drink together.
The restaurant will be closed on Friday so they can have a well-earned rest as well.
Ms Miller hopes that 2021 will be a much better year, without any further restrictions having to be imposed on businesses.
