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– It’s absolutely horrible! The situation now means that Oslo residents may be left without what has made Oslo a pleasant city for many years, NHO Reiseliv CEO Kristin Krohn Devold tells TV 2.
She continues:
– Now we have to change the measurements. And it has to happen fast!
Since Oslo introduced a total ban on alcoholic beverages on November 10, there has only been one way for the nightlife industry.
Kristin Krohn Devold, managing director of NHO Reiseliv, comments on the problems of Norwegian tourism during the crown crisis Photo: Ingvild Gjerdsjø / TV 2
As many as seven in ten fear their companies will fail as a result of restrictions in Oslo, recent figures from NHO Reiseliv show.
The new restrictions have had fatal consequences for much of the industry. 60 percent have closed or will close shortly.
Engebret Café and Grand Café are just two of many that have to face the consequences of the measures.
As a result of restaurants being no longer allowed to serve alcohol and having had to reduce the number of diners, Engebret Café receives only 2.5% of the turnover they usually receive in the Christmas months of November and December.
Lay off all your employees
At the beginning of November, Kay Henning Johnsen closed her restaurant and therefore also had to lay off all her employees.
EMPTY: A kitchen that is usually full of chefs cooking for their customers is now completely empty. After Kay Henning Johnsen had to lay off all of his employees, it was he who took on the job of caretaker. Photo: Anders Stensås / TV 2
– The holiday season is important to the entire industry. In November and December, we should have had a turnover of 20 million, but now we have a turnover of 500,000, says Johnsen, who runs Engebret Café in Oslo.
He adds:
– We make Christmas food, and Christmas food is about Norwegian food, beer and aquavit. We are not talking about large quantities, but people want the opportunity to be able to get some aquavit for the holiday meal. That opportunity is available in Bergen, and it is a solution that we could have had in Oslo as well.
Gjøran Sæther at Grand Café is also taking measurements well.
GUARDIAN: From having a hectic day-to-day life as a restaurant owner, now you need to ensure that all drains are maintained as long as they are not used otherwise. Photo: Anders Stensås / TV 2
At this time last year, his restaurant had 600 guests.
This year, on the other hand, the rush for the month of this year’s big visitors seems to be much sadder for the entire catering industry in the capital.
– Absolutely crucial
– If they had allowed us to serve alcohol, maybe we could have had half and still dealt with infection control in a good way, says Gjøran Sæther, who runs the restaurant.
He believes serving alcohol is absolutely crucial to being able to stay open even during the month of Christmas.
– There is no one to go out and drink soda for the chops, so if we could have been open until 10pm like in Bergen, we could have stayed open, says Sæther.
Gjøran Sæther, CEO of Grand Café in Oslo, hopes that the Oslo City Council will follow the model of Bergen. Photo: Petter Sørum Johansen / TV 2
– The Christmas period is a complete race. There is a bar stop until December 14 and we do not know what will happen next, he continues.
The two restaurant owners are desperate about the situation, and now they hope that the Oslo City Council may consider following the model of Bergen, where the restaurants will remain open until 10 p.m.
At Bryggeloftet in Bergen, they are open. Photo: Ingrid Wollberg / TV 2
– I feel sorry for the teammates
In Bergen, where serving is allowed until 9:30 p.m., many feel sorry for their colleagues in the capital. The Bergen City Council has given the industry new guests because the maximum limit of two guests at home for households with three or more means that many must choose restaurants if they want to eat and drink together.
Managing Director of Bryggeloftet in Bergen. Photo: Ingrid Wollberg / TV 2
– We are very happy that with the guests we have, we can still get some employees back, says Gaute Birkeli, general manager of Bryggeloftet in Bergen.
Although they, too, have seen a significant decline after the measures, he is happy that people can meet there instead of having to meet at home.
– I am very sorry for our colleagues in Oslo, he says.
The CEO of the De Bergenske hotel chain believes that restaurants in the capital should be able to stay open.
– It’s sad and very drastic. It shouldn’t be necessary to shut down completely, as long as the service is performed under controlled conditions, says Kjetil Smørås at De Bergenske.
As of now, the Oslo municipality has no new plans to lift the ban on alcoholic beverages, but Business Councilor Victoria Maria Evensen (Labor Party) has promised to comment on the measures on TV 2 later Monday night.
