Before the COVID-19 pandemic, local musician Murray Creed regularly played drums with his group, The Temps. They had dozens of gigs throughout the year at bars and pubs. But they haven’t played together since March. And he doesn’t expect to be reunited anytime soon.
“I have a feeling that everything is going to have to stop with this latest announcement,” he said.
Creed was referring to Tuesday when B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced significant COVID-19 prevention changes to B.C.’s bar and dining scene Monday.
Nightclubs and stand-alone banquet halls are now permanently closed.
For bars and restaurants, the last call for alcohol is now 10 p.m. and they must be closed at 11 p.m. unless providing a full meal service, in which case they may stay open, but can not serve liquor until 11 a.m. the following day.
The province is also requiring music or other background sounds, such as from televisions in bars, lounges, pubs and restaurants, must be no louder than the volume of normal conversation.
The president of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association, Ian Tostenson, said he hopes the new restrictions won’t be for long, but they are necessary.
“We’re going to have to live with this because I think we believe it’s the right thing to do to get COVID under control again. It’s out of control,” Tostenson said.
And the owners and operators of many of Vancouver Island’s bars and restaurants agree. At the Fernwood Inn, business is brisk.
General Manager Mike Colwill thinks the changes will help as they face a tough winter.
“I think, personally, the new rules will be helpful for the neighbourhood pubs. It’ll keep locals local. And keep people within their smaller groups and bubbles,” Colwill said.
In 2017, The Irish Times won the coveted crown as North America’s Irish Pub of the Year. Now owner Matt MacNeil thinks his pubs will survive the winter but believes other establishments won’t be so lucky.
“I think January is going to really really tough. That’s going to be the telltale. Most are hoping to hang on through December. Getting that little Christmas bump, perhaps, just to survive themselves as owners/operators,” MacNeil said.
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Mary Griffin
