After almost two months of Bathurst being in lockdown, pubs are ready to welcome people back this week.
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COVID-19 restrictions eased on Monday, allowing people to dine out at Bathurst venues for the first time since August.
Panorama Hotel general manager Tim Fagan said he's excited to welcome people back and he's expecting to hit capacity this weekend.
"It's very good. We're pretty pumped, pretty excited," he said.
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"It'll be good to have people back because it's been quite sad seeing everything empty. Filling up the spaces and having people around will be good.
"Having staff back and that kind of thing will be good too. I've been normally the only one coming in most days, so it's been quite lonely.
"I think on the weekends we'll have a big influx. We're still limited per our capacity, so that'll be an issue, but I'm pretty we'll reach capacity on the weekend."
While accommodation bookings have been slow during lockdown, Mr Fagan said the phone had been ringing "hot" on Monday morning.
"Now that everything is starting to open up, people are starting to book rooms," he said.
Paddys Hotel manager Luke Mulligan said it'll be great to bring back a sense of community.
"It'll be great to see everyone's faces and have a beer, to bring back that sense of community we've been missing," he said.
"It's a bit hard to gauge what this week will be like. Some will be chomping at the bit to have a schooner, while some might be a bit hesitant."
Kelso Hotel manager Robert "Stumpy" Taylor said people will have to provide proof of their vaccination when entering.
"It's good that everyone can get back into the swing of things," he said.
"You'll have to be double vaccinated, QR sign-in and socially distance.
"You'll have to show your vaccination, whether it's physical or digital. We can photocopy it so we have it on record."
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