Overview
Last week, Sydney's hospitality businesses were allowed to reopen for dine-in customers for the first time in two months — for just ten customers. From June 1, that number will jump to 50.
Today, Friday, May 22, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that Sydney's restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs would be allowed to have up to 50 dine-in customers from the first of next month, but there would be some "very strict guidelines" around this.
As well as adhering to the one person per four-square-metres rule, hospitality businesses will not be allowed to take bookings of more than ten people, no customers will be allowed to stand up and all service must happen at the table (ie — no ordering at the bar). The Premier also said that "things will be very different". "Imagine even something as simple as having joint cutlery on a table won't be able to exist anymore. A simple buffet won't exist anymore," she said.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also confirmed that all diners will need to register their details when eating out. "When you ring up a restaurant, you'd normally give your name and phone number anyway to make the booking," Hazzard said. "In this case, it would more likely be, though — and we're working through this with industry — that each person who goes in would also give their name and phone number. That would certainly help keep all of us safe."
The Old Fitzroy by Tanya Saint James
While the Premier didn't mention small bars, distilleries and breweries in the announcement today, they are also currently allowed to open as long as liquor is served "with, or ancillary to, food in an area for eating" per the NSW Government legislation.
Food and drink venues having 50 customers is just one of three relaxed restrictions that'll be introduced in NSW on June 1, with the Premier previously announcing that regional travel — including overnight stays — within the state will be allowed from the first of next month, and that cultural institutions, including art galleries, museums and libraries, will be allowed to open with restrictions.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
Top image: Chica Bonita by Kitti Gould