Seating, alcohol curbs still challenging for F&B sector

Singapore

FOOD and beverage (F&B) businesses have welcomed the move to allow gatherings of as many as eight people from Dec 28, up from five now, as Singapore enters Phase 3 of its three-stage economic reopening.

Although the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions may come too late to lift Christmas revenue, F&B players are anticipating the move's impact on their business in the new year, especially the large family dinners during Chinese New Year.

"Although it may not look like much, (this move) can double the efficiency for many operators from a space usage and resource allocation perspective," said Joseph Ong, president of Singapore Nightlife Business Association, who added that larger gatherings "would enhance the dining and drinking vibe significantly" and boost social activity.

Similarly, a spokesperson for the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS), told The Business Times: "We have been waiting for the authorities to allow us to seat more people at each table in our restaurants and for the return of larger families per seating.

"This new move will certainly help improve and sustain the F&B businesses, thereby preserving F&B jobs, as we move into 2021."

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 8.30 am

SGSME

Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips.

Sign Up

There may be some limited benefit for the holiday season too, with the confirmation that the five-person limit will last through Christmas.

As of Dec 7, restaurant reservation platform Quandoo had only received a third of last year's Christmas Eve bookings for Christmas Eve 2020, but it attributed this to patrons delaying their bookings in the hope that they would be able to have larger gatherings. With the announcement, more bookings will likely flow in over the next few days.

Restaurant booking platform Chope has already started receiving reservation requests from more far-sighted diners for parties of seven to eight people for Chinese New Year Eve, said Singapore general manager Jean Wee.

Melody Tan, deputy director of Yum Cha Restaurant, is looking forward to being allowed to increase her restaurant's capacity ahead of the festivities. "As we are a Chinese restaurant, Chinese New Year is very important for us. We are happy that during this celebratory period, more customers will have a chance to dine with their families and extended families," she said.

Said the RAS spokesperson: "While we had hoped for this phase to be opened in time for Christmas, we understand that the authorities may want the longer lead time to ensure that everyone is prepared to receive more diners at the tables."

Seoul Garden Group anticipates a rise in bookings for larger groups especially during the festive period. General manager Garry Lam said it will continue to enforce safety measures at all outlets. This includes notices and announcements reminding patrons not to intermingle between tables and to maintain safe distancing.

Yet some restaurant operators also urged a review of safe management measures.

Rules like keeping tables one metre apart - even if patrons are seated with their backs to each other and separated by acrylic dividers - lack strong rationale and "significantly impact our seating capacity", Creative Eateries chief operating officer Bonnie Wong said, noting that restaurants still have to pay full rents despite the capacity restrictions.

She anticipates that customers will still try to split groups across multiple tables to meet the new eight-person limit, just as they did with the five-diner cap - creating an ongoing challenge for restaurants, which must tell them that this is not allowed.

"I expect that with the move to Phase 3, customers may get more demanding if their requests are not fulfilled," she said.

And with rules now barring alcohol from being served after 10.30pm, Mr Ong, who is also managing director of lifestyle player 1-Group, added: "The main measure that we are hoping for next would be the extension of liquor licence hours to 12am every night and allowing for live music in bars and dining venues."

Multi-ministry taskforce co-chairman Lawrence Wong noted that the larger group size is "something special for those who may not have had the chance to eat together" since virus-control restrictions kicked in this year.

Still, he told patrons and operators: "Use that opportunity well, but stay responsible and remember, at the end of the day, the enforcement officers are still going to be there."

Meanwhile, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said that government agency Enterprise Singapore "will be working together with the major retailers to see how we can better improve their layout to create more space".

"This is to make sure that we are able to better manage the crowd during the year-end festive season, and also the period towards Chinese New Year."

More details will be released in due course, Mr Chan added.

* More reports on Virus outbreak: Phase 3 and beyond: