In its 150 plus years serving the people of Beaconsfield and surrounds, the town’s historic Central Hotel has traded through wars, depressions, recessions and now a pandemic.
The hotel, which in normal times only shuts its doors once a year on Christmas Day, was forced to close for three weeks when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March.
However, thanks to the Federal Government’s Job Keeper program, the hotel’s owners were quickly able to reinstate more than 30 staff and open up for takeaway food and liquor.
On Monday it finally reopened its doors to patron, with a maximum of 60 allowed to dine in at the hotel across three separate areas.
Manager Pat Deegan said patrons could book one of two sessions – 4pm to 6pm or 6pm to 8pm. On Friday and across the weekend there will be an additional 8pm to 10pm dining slot.
Staff will take customer’s details at the door in case contact tracing is needed. There will also be hand santiser available and the hotel has undergone a deep clean. Tables have been arranged to meet socially distancing guidelines.
Meanwhile, takeaway food and alcohol will continue.
Locals within a five kilometres radius of the Old Princes Highway hotel can order alcohol over the phone and have it delivered to their door on weekends.
The bottle shop offers a wide selection of beer, wine and spirits. If customers are unsure about what to order, the friendly staff can point them in the right direction with helpful recommendations.
The hotel’s kitchen staff have also been kept busy with takeaway orders available every day after 5pm.
The casual menu includes a delicious selection of Sneaky Cheese burgers, fries, parmas and snacks like chicken tenders, meatballs, chilli beef, nachos and buffalo wings.
Food can be delivered to homes in a 10 kilometre radius. For a full take away menu go to thecentch.com.au
Part owner Pat Deegan said the whole team missed the hotel being alive with patrons enjoying the bistro, the bar or catching live entertainment.
Mr Deegan said the past two months had been an extraordinary time in the history of the hotel, which was founded in the 1850s. The current building dates back to the 1920s.
“No, I’ve never seen anything like this. We usually close one day a year, Christmas Day, so for us to close for a couple of weeks is crazy.”
He thanked locals for their support throughout the Covid-19 crisis and urged people to support local business.
