– In practice, we are ordered to close – E24

On Friday the message of terror arrived. Councilman Raymond Johansen warns of social closure. Starting Tuesday, there is a full bar stop in the municipality of Oslo.

This has important consequences for restaurants in the city.

– The situation is very serious, says Even Hegbom.

He is the daily editor of Den Glade Gris in Oslo.

– What the hell are we going to do?

It is still allowed to stay open. But with strict social measures and bar stops, it doesn’t make much sense to keep it open, Hegbom believes.

– Actually, we have been ordered to close. Without that word being used.

– I think of all my employees. What the hell are we going to do? We have to say goodbye. The notice will likely go out to everyone over the weekend.

– Are you going to close the restaurant?

– I think so. So the 18 must be fired. But we are considering staying open to go.

Hegbom says the restaurant will lose around 3.5 million crowns in November alone.

– How serious is it for you?

– We’ve had a few good years, so we have a war fund. We are consuming it now. We have no problem with management.

The restaurant had a turnover of NOK 27.6 million last year. They received a pre-tax profit of NOK 5 million.

According to Hegbom, October through December is high season.

– That’s when you go out. That is the culture.

It says that around 2,000 people have canceled as a result of developing the infection in recent weeks.

– Coward

Lars Erik Underthun is the CEO of the Feinschmecker restaurant. Reacts strongly to the measures of the authorities.

– First we are asked to stay at home. Then comes the bar stop. It’s wrong and it’s Johansen’s coward. I should have said we should shut down, says Underthun.

They will have a board meeting later on Friday. There they will talk about the operation in the future.

– It is difficult to continue driving without alcohol. It is said alone. Especially when we’re asked to stay home, he says.

– Almost everyone went back to work. Now 18 people must return in total dismissal. It’s sad, he adds.

Now it asks for action plans based on forced closure.

Bent Stiansen is the director of the gourmet restaurant Statholdergaarden.

– We are shocked, sad and desperate. This must first be dealt with internally at the company before you can say anything else, he says.

250 cancellations

The Smia Galleri restaurant in Oslo recently canceled 250 Christmas dinners. The general director Merete Nilsen Bua characterizes the situation as in March. Then the measures cost them 900,000 crowns.

– We are now considering closing on Monday. Then the nine employees will be laid off, says Bua.

They were scheduled to switch to the Christmas menu starting Wednesday.

– Now we have a lot of food on the keel that we have to get rid of. Now we are considering giving it away or selling it at a reduced price to neighbors and friends, he says.

However, he believes that Smia Gallery is in a good position.

Bua owns the premises and has paid all the debts. Also, he runs another company.

– Back to March 12

Rhiannon Edwards directs Virke’s culture and experiences.

– Now it’s sad. Oslo is back until March 12. Now nightlife is completely dependent on the government coming up with better compensation schemes. They must realize that we are back where we were in March, he says.

Edwards fears that Oslo will never be the same again unless the government comes to the rescue of the industry soon. A collapse of closures is not far off, according to her.

– I’m afraid Oslo will lose a large part of his soul. It will be calm.

– You need predictability

The nightlife industry in Oslo has around 17,000 employees. Several of them have received layoff notices in recent days. An NHO survey in October paints a disappointing picture:

• 67 percent of companies are planning layoffs as a result of the situation.
• 64% consider that there is a real risk of bankruptcy at the end of the year.

On Tuesday this week, Councilor Raymond Johansen (Labor Party) met with Iselin Nybø to discuss the situation. He demanded that the government intervene to save night life.

Today, nightlife can be offset by up to 60 percent of some fixed costs. Johansen and Virke have requested that this figure be increased to 70 percent. Salary support should also be included here, they believe.

– Above all, the industry needs predictability, emphasizes Edwards in Virke.