Day 1 of the new restriction laws and it was good to see the beer flowing and the food rolling out of dining areas throughout the CBD today.

In a turnaround from the originally announced table service, you can even go up the bar and order your own drinks. Mick Bulmer from the Rous Hotel said "the Hotel Association spoke to the government about how restrictive it was to have table service for drinks. It means hiring another person to serve drinks that we can't afford right now".

The Rous Hotel had beer and drinks flowing today but food will not start being served until Wednesday with lunch 10am to 2pm and dinner 6 to 8:30pm Monday to Saturday.

The Gollan Hotel which opened its doors for first time in 10 weeks had "a good first day" according to Manager Glenn Tomkinson. During the COVID break Glenn has been hard at work painting in readiness to start serving beer and food again. Girie Baikuntha is the new chef with the new look luncheon menu being served from 10am to 2pm. Girie has spent the last five years in Dubai and has moved to Lismore with his wife who is studying at SCU.

Mary G's across the road was doing a good lunch trade today but their upstairs renovations next to the bar were not complete yet to take advantage of this first week of more patrons. Manager Cath Simes saying "the new carpet will be in by Monday and we should be good to go next Monday".

The Station Hotel doesn't serve food but drinks were flowing there too with 28 people being allowed out the front bar and 28 out the back with 6 in the gaming rooms.

The Civic Hotel on Molesworth Street had their doors open too.

As for the timing for the further easing of restrictions, July 1 is the hopeful date where pubs and restaurants can move from the 4 square metre rule to 2 square metres between each table of 10, which is your largest group at any table at this stage.