Super Saturday salute looms with WA hospitality players back in the game

The state's battered hospitality industry will soon be back in business after WA Premier Mark McGowan announced a substantial relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions from Saturday, June 6.

Up to 300 people will be allowed in some settings, including indoor or outdoor venues with multiple, divided spaces, with 100 people permitted otherwise in each space.

It would be known as the 100/300 rule, Mr McGowan said.

The move is likely to trigger celebrations across pubs next weekend as well as cafes, restaurants, clubs and hotels after the hospitality industry's cautious opening to phase two 12 days ago.

That allowed for 20 patrons at any one time, adhering to the 4-square-metre rule, which left most of Perth's hospitality players that decided to open fully booked the past fortnight.

Tania Nicolo, who owns popular Italian bar and restaurant Mummucc' and pizzeria Monsterella two doors down in suburban Wembley, said she could not wait to welcome back more of their regulars from next Saturday.

"As nice as it was to have 20 people back over the past few weeks, it still felt very empty," she said.

"The new measures are very welcome and now there'll be a real sense of energy back at the two venues, which we all love. "

After taking bookings for the past 12 days as part of the government's mandate on venues re-opening in phase two, Mummucc' would now introduce reservations for half of its 40-person capacity to allow chef Matt McDonald's tight and delicious menu to shine even more on the plate.

AHA WA chief executive Bradley Woods said the announcement was a critical milestone for WA’s hospitality industry and would be celebrated by hospitality operators and staff across the state.

"The ability for venues to now have up to 100 patrons per separate area or room ... and the removal of the one-in-4-square-metre of floor space restriction, is a significant shift in the ability of venues to reopen and operate," he said.

"The halving of the capacity formula ... will allow many more venues to open.

"WA’s hospitality industry has paid a heavy financial price to keep Western Australians safe and as they re-open, they do so in a way that prioritises patron safety, with new hygiene training, social distancing requirements and contact tracing protocols in place.

"Removing the requirement for pubs, bars and taverns to only provide alcohol with a meal will be warmly welcomed by both venues and the community.

"What is most important now is that venues are well supported by the local community; the road to recovery ahead is going to be a long one and it is now more crucial than ever that Western Australians get out and support their local venues."

As part of phase 3, the following changes will affect WA's hospitality industry most:

• Non-work indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people will be allowed, a five-fold increase from the current 20-person limit.
• Up to 300 people will be allowed in some settings, including for indoor or outdoor venues with multiple, divided spaces, with up to 100 people in each space.
• All food businesses and licensed premises can now operate with seated service only, and alcohol may now be served without a meal at licensed premises.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook said the state's Chief Health Officer's advice was social distancing could be eased to 2 square metres if venues ensured patrons were seated.

That way, venues could minimise the amount of mingling patrons did with each other, thereby reducing the risk of infection.

"With these relaxations come responsibility,” Mr Cook said. "People must take personal responsibility to maintain physical distancing and personal hygiene at the same time."

Mr McGowan outlined the phase three developments after a national cabinet meeting on Friday, with the restrictions easing a week earlier than he had initially flagged.