ACT venue limits: Pubs, bars relieved but uncertain about new limits

They're raising a glass to the new drinking and dining rules in Canberra's clubs and pubs - but not quite opening the biggest bottle of bubbly yet.

Bigger venues are planning to keep within the new limit of 20 people per "enclosed space" - but many publicans and club managers were asking how exactly "enclosed space" was defined.

When the rules come in on Saturday, one club plans to partition big rooms to create smaller spaces, each allowed to hold 20 diners. Another is turning each of its existing rooms into a restaurant. Smaller venues remain unclear.

The ACT government said an " enclosed space" was "an area, room or premises that is substantially enclosed by a roof and walls, regardless of whether the roof or walls are permanent or temporary, or open or closed."

It said it was possible for venues to erect floor-to-ceiling partitions providing they were made of material which couldn't be penetrated by a virus.

But some publicans said they were still unclear.

"We've got plenty of floor space", Glen Collins, owner of The Dock pub on the Kingston foreshore said, "but it's all in one big open area. We are definitely looking to put up partitions."

He and his co-owner, Jane Collins, reckoned that they will be able to sit 34 people with the tightest definition of the regulations but 74 at the loosest.

They are planning to use the beer garden and a courtyard as separate areas. There'll be outdoor heating.

The Southern Cross Club in Woden was planning to partition big rooms - though not the big ballroom because only 20 diners in a room which could hold 800 people would not offer an attractive dining atmosphere.

"We are a little confused but we want to ensure that we comply and, in fact, that we over-comply," Southern Cross chief executive Ian Mackay said.

The Hellenic Club planned to utilise its many separate rooms as restaurants, each with the 20 person limit, but the club was not going to divide rooms.

Chief Executive Ian Cameron said that as well as the three main restaurants and bars, there were private dining rooms, lounges and a sports bar and each would become a separate dining and drinking area.

He reckoned they would be able to cater for 150 people at any one time - about a tenth of the numbers in pre-crisis days.

The club has several different entrances and a range of toilets so people could be kept apart. Diners from one area wouldn't mingle with diners from another.

Every club and pub operator The Canberra Times talked to welcomed the loosening of the regulations. "Just the thought of returning to normality again - it's definitely a boost that we are all very excited about," Jane Collins of The Dock said.

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Mount Majura's indoor cellar-door area will only take 19 people, according to wine-maker Frank van de Loo and they were taking bookings for tastings there.

But if the weather is fine and people turn up, another 20 could be accommodated for tastings outside.

He was pleased with the loosening because he thought it would happen much later. "Things are changing faster than we thought," he said.

Things change even faster next week when NSW pubs can have 50 people drinking in contrast to the ACT's tougher 20 people allowed to drink but only if they eat.

That raises the prospect of people going across the border to Queanbeyan for a night out.

Mark Maszro who owns the Rose Cottage Bar and Bistro in Gilmore thought the ACT government should have loosened the rules more. But "we are very excited about Saturday."