Regina restaurant owner responds to new restrictions

The owner of a Regina restaurant and bar says the new COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the Saskatchewan government Wednesday won’t impact establishments like his as long as people aren’t coming in.

Tim Rogers, owner of the Lancaster Taphouses in Regina, understands and respects the new restrictions put in place but he acknowledges that a lot of local businesses still need people to come through the doors.

“All these restrictions are being put in place for safety, but the reality is, we’re in big trouble right now as it is,” Rogers said. “You know, I get asked daily what my thoughts are on if we would have to be closed down or, ‘I hope we don’t get closed down.’ And at this point, it doesn’t have a massive impact.

“Restaurants and bars are hurting. It can’t get much worse.”

On Wednesday, the provincial government announced seating at restaurants and licensed establishments such as bars, taverns and nightclubs will be limited to four people per table. That number previously was six.

The government also said tables must be two metres apart if the establishment has barriers set up between tables. If there aren’t any barriers, there must be at least three metres between all tables.

Rogers says that seating restrictions and physical distancing measures can add to the comfort of people coming in, but it won’t change people’s minds if they aren’t comfortable going out to begin with.

“It really matters what people’s comfort levels are, and with people’s comfort levels being largely cut back on going out or not going out at all, these restrictions won’t have much of an effect,” he said.

“We are probably overstaffed, but I’m not going to send my staff home. I’m not going to lay people off. As long as we have that wage subsidy, I’m going to keep them employed.”

For restaurants that were built around a social atmosphere, COVID-19 has made it very difficult for them to pivot.

“We modified ourselves in the shutdown (previously this year) to kind of focus on takeout delivery because we have to, but the Lancaster was never built to get your food and go home,” Rogers said. “Restaurants like us, the large part of our business involves the social environment.

“Sitting in the pub full of people and watching the game and catching up with friends feels like a distant memory.”

Restaurants also must keep guest and reservation information on all people who attend for contact tracing purposes. The liquor curfew instituted previously remains the same, with no one being allowed to order alcohol after 10 p.m.