DINING
Restaurants in a post-Covid world
Will our F&B scene ever be the same again? Apple Lee asks
Hong Kong, like many cities around the world, is reeling from the effects of the coronavirus outbreak. Since late March, the city’s restaurants have been implementing social distancing measures including allowing no more than four people at each table, keeping 1.5 metres apart between each table and requiring guests to wear face masks when they are not eating. These measures mean that many restaurants are rethinking the way they operate to keep their doors open amid the ongoing pandemic.
Malcolm Wood
When looking ahead to the rest of 2020, the future remains unclear. Under this climate of uncertainty, restaurants are facing immense pressure to act quickly and put together various contingency plans.
Founder of Ask for Alonzo
We ask three Hong Kong restaurateurs to share insights on their outlook for the rocky months ahead.
26 | hongkongliving.com
Co-Founder and Group Managing Director of Maximal Concepts Hong Kong is highly unlikely to see a return of international tourism within 2020, so we need to look towards our local community for domestic business and see better regulations and better support from our own government. Without these two things, the future of the industry is uncertain.
Bart Szyniec It will be no surprise that 2020 will be very hard for the F&B industry. With high rents, low margins and declining revenue, not many operators will survive. The coronavirus will last for at least six to 12 months, which will change the dining scene completely. Malcolm Wood
