It’s been a long time between drinks but slowly the pubs are starting to reopen.

Port Douglas favourites Rattle N Hum and Paddy’s Irish Bar threw open their doors this afternoon for the first time in ten weeks and Publican, Danny Gray, said it’s a great feeling.

“It’s great to be getting started again. We are slowly getting back to some normality,” he said.

However, things will look a little different with a number of COVID Safe precautions being implemented including hand sanitiser stations, spaced out and fewer tables, no condiments on tables, and extra cleaning measures. All staff have also had to undergo COVID courses.

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Under the new regulations, there will be no ordering from the bar, however, patrons will have the option to use a new tech-savvy QR Code system.

“There are QR Codes on the tables and you can scan it with a smartphone and order your food or drink and pay for it from your phone, then someone will bring it out for you,” Mr Gray said.

“So, it limits some of the person to person contact.”

Currently, venues are limited to 20 people, however, Mr Gray said once they can obtain a COVID safe industry plan from the state government, which are expected to come into play tomorrow, they will be able to have 20 people per section.

“It’s all a little unknown at the moment and things keep changing but we will just see how it all goes,” he said.

Mr Gray added that there opening hours will change as restrictions change but as a start, Paddy’s will open Wednesday to Sunday while Rattle N Hum will open Tuesday to Saturday.

The next few weeks will see a large number of other local businesses start to emerge from hibernation too, including:

• Jimmy Rum's Mixing Lounge – Reopens today
• N17 - has reopened
• Hemingway’s – The Cairns venue will open on 18 June, while a decision on the Port Douglas venue is still pending, however, is expected to be in the next couple of weeks.
• Central Hotel – An opening date is expected to be announced in the next few weeks
• Court House Hotel - An opening date is expected to be announced in the next few weeks
• Barbados Port Douglas- An opening date is expected to be announced in the next couple of weeks
• Daintree Village Hotel – Will reopen on 9 June
• Salsa Bar and Grill – Will reopen 13 June
• On the Inlet – Will reopen 18 June
• Melaleuca Port Douglas – Will reopen 12 June
• Sassi – Will reopen 12 June
• Daintree Ecolodge – Will reopen 10 July
• Man and dog Bush Adventures - Will reopen 13 June
• Masons Cafe Cape Tribulation, Mason's Cape Trib Store and Bottleshop, and Mason's Waterhole has reopened
• Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas - Will reopen 13 June.
• Seabean - Will reopen 11 June

These businesses and many more will join the restaurants and bars and retail outlets that have already opened in recent weeks.

If your business missed out be sure to add it in the comments below!