Hospitality venues reopen in Regional Victoria

Regional Victoria has officially moved into stage three of the state’s reopening roadmap, having reached the 14-day average of Coronavirus cases as defined by the government’s reopening phases. 

This has meant that hospitality venues in regional Victoria have been able to open their doors for dine-in trade for the first time since early August.  

The reopening allows venues to seat 50 customers outdoors, and 10 customers per space indoors (max of two spaces), in line with social distancing requirements of four square metres per customer.

“Hospitality businesses will be able to serve patrons outdoors, with a cap of 50 seated patrons per venue, and an updated ‘two square metre’ density limit in place,” said Victorian State Premier Daniel Andrews.

According to COVID safety measures, all tables need to be spaced at least 1.5m apart and cleaned between customers.

Operators will also need to request details from all patrons and keep them on file. A maximum of 10 people can be seated together.

The Premier says regional Victoria’s return to dine-in will “pave the way for Melbourne’s return to dining”, which will largely revolve around outdoor dining.

Eligible hospitality businesses will be able to access $5000 grants to cover equipment required for outdoor dining including furniture, umbrellas and coverings.

“We want as many people seated in as quick a time as possible, utilising public space that has never been on offer previously,” said Premier Andrews.

“We are going to see more and more tables on footpaths. Some of that foot traffic may move to the kerbside parking area where kerbside parking would no longer be allowed.”