They're only tentative steps, but the Government's decision to ease COVID-19 restrictions has meant Maitland businesses are inching towards a return to normal for the first time since lockdown began.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Yesterday"s announcement to allow up to 10 people a time into pub dining areas and restaurants from Friday has sparked moves by some to open their doors again - for others, the numbers are still too restrictive.
And for some, they're sitting somewhere in between. Here's how it stands:
On the restaurant scene, Italian eatery Fratelli Roma, which has been providing takeaway food options, will open again from Friday for the 10 people limit.
At the other end of town, Ometto Pizza Bar has announced on Facebook it too will open for eat in.
El Chapos Mexican restaurant will open again on Friday, but it will be evening meals only for the time being.
Maneeya Thai restaurant will also open for sit-in meals, as well as doing it's regular takeaway service.
Aloi D Thai in The Levee also plans to allow dine-ins to complement its lunch and dinner take-away service.
The Whistler has been doing takeaway breakfast, lunch and dinner during lockdown - and limited home delivery options - and it will open again next week, but not by Friday. The venue has undergone renovations which will not be complete until the middle of next week, when they plan to open again.
Teale Cafe in East Maitland says the 10 person limit is not enough for eat-in, so they will continue serving takeaway snacks and takeaway home meals only.
On the pub front, the Family Hotel will continue to provide takeaway and coffee, and will allow people to eat in, but it will be the takeaway menu only at this stage.
The Hunter River Hotel will remain closed, saying the 10 person limit is not sufficient for them to open.
Bushrangers Bar and Brasserie at Largs will open, but not by Friday.
"We'll spruce the place up a bit before we reopen, probably in the middle of next week," owner David McCoy said. "Also I'd ideally like to have draught beer to sell, so hopefully we'll have some in by then."
The Windsor Castle, Rutherford, Bank and Bradford hotels will all continue to do takeaway meals only.
The George Tavern plans to open its bistro again, but not until some time next week. In the meantime it will continue doing takeaways as it has for the last two weeks.
Clayton Barrett at Shenanigans at The Imperial said he will open as soon as possible for lunch and dinner, but was still waiting on some clarification from the Health Department.
"But I expect we'll be ready to go," he said.
It comes on the back of the decision by Maitland Council to allow outdoor playground and gym equipment to reopen from Friday.
In addition, personal training sessions and boot camps of up to 10 people may use local parks if bookings have been made - but that council rangers will patrol local parks to monitor booking and ensure that social distancing requirements are being met.
