The South African Restaurant industry is very close to collapse, and is in urgent need of a cash flow injection to survive, a major finding of a study conducted last month, as a follow-up to a survey which the Esus-Group conducted in June 2020. The lifting of the alcohol ban from midnight tonight is a step in the right direction but the Curfew must be lifted too and the international borders must be opened, says Restaurateur Giles Blanc, and Co-Director of the Esus-Group, which has international Hospitality interests, and owns The 41 and The Korner restaurants in Cape Town. Blanc announced on Friday that he will soon reopen The 41 for the first time since Lockdown commenced in March. Continue reading →
Monday 20 July 2020, Day 50 of Level 3, after 66 days of Levels 5 and 4 😷
A survey conducted amongst restaurants by the international hospitality Esus-Group, has found that many restaurants reopened for Lockdown Sit-Down Service from 30 June, as the date coincided with the end date of the Government paying employees UIF/TERS, restaurants therefore being forced to reopen to be able to pay their staff. Sadly this may lead to the death of the restaurant industry, as they are using valuable cash to run a business which now has a turnover of 20% of that of last winter, the study shows! 
Yesterday I was requested as a restaurant writer to prepare a submission for an urgent court proceeding to be brought against Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel, should he not meet the demand by today 6 July of restaurateurs that restaurants be allowed to serve alcohol with meals served, and to allow the distance rule for persons sitting at the same table to be reduced from 1,5 meters. The matter is being handled by Advocate Theo Nel, with support if the Karoo Art Hotel in Barrydale, and Chef Liam Tomlin’s six restaurants, including three Chefs Warehouses.