Kolkata: Bars and restaurants were disappointed by the new set of restrictions declared on Wednesday. They have been allowed to function during ‘normal hours’ but not beyond 8pm, which, according to restaurant-owners, will not make any significant difference to footfall. So far, they were allowed to stay open between noon and 8pm.
“It doesn’t make any great difference for us as we can’t open or serve before noon. But the good thing is the footfall has been high. Kolkatans don’t start dining before 8.30pm but it’s changing. People are dropping in for an early dinner,” said Nitin Kothari, owner of Mocambo and Peter Cat on Park Street.
But Hotel and Restaurants’ Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) believes this will not help. “Few restaurants can open before noon and get good business. With the 8pm restrictions on, we have lost the bulk of our customers,” said HRAEI president Sudesh Poddar, who also owns Song-Hai restaurant.
But some said tea rooms and confectionaries, like Flury’s, might benefit. “They open early. But there are very few of them,” said a restaurant owner.
