Rockpool Dining Group prepares for Queensland bumper month
Monday, 6 July 2020: Rockpool Dining Group is bracing for record bookings and a bumper month as it re-opens eight restaurants across Queensland this week and launches a new dining venture on the Gold Coast, in line with further and faster easing of dining restrictions and the re-opening of the state border.
Pent-up demand for dining out, together with strategic management of bookings and safe-dining preparations are expected to be a win-win for customers and the Group, which has seen record days and year-on-year revenue growth across some of its recently re-opened venues in Sydney and Melbourne.
Diners suffering from schnitzel withdrawals, or craving the biggest, crackliest pork knuckles in Queensland can roll up their sleeves for an unforgettable feast from midday on Thursday, 9 July when The Bavarians re-open at Eagle Street Pier, Chermside, Toowoomba, Mackay, Robina, and the Sunshine Coast.
Cult followers of gastronomic wild child El Camino Cantina can grab a casual, Tex-Mex fix at Westfield Chermside when the restaurant also re-opens at midday on Thursday, 9 July. The menu spans tacos, fajitas, nachos, famous, frozen margaritas and ice-cold Mexican beers. Bottomless baskets of tortilla chips and salsas, and colourful sombreros are free for all diners. Guests can dive into a three-course, Tex-Mex Fiesta with replenished drinks daily ($79pp), while Taco Tuesday is a weekly affair of $2 and $4 tacos, and Wing Wednesday offers buffalo wings for 10-cents each, with a drink purchase.
From the Group’s premium portfolio, Japanese super-fusion destination Saké Eagle Street Pier will re-open at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 15 July. Saké siblings in Sydney and Melbourne are managing sell-out sittings and wait-lists in line with peak dining periods.
Rounding out a busy month of activity in Queensland will be the launch of El Camino Cantina at Robina on the Gold Coast on Wednesday, 22 July at 4pm, which is the second new opening for the Group across the country this month and spurred ahead by the buoyant market and positive outlook.
Rockpool Dining Group re-opened three Brisbane restaurants in June: El Camino Cantina and Beerhaüs in Bowen Hills, and WingHAÜS by Bavarian on Edward Street in the CBD, all with safe-dining measures in place.
Rockpool Dining Group Chief Executive Officer Thomas Pash said further and faster easing of restrictions in Queensland and the imminent re-opening of the border was expected to be a boon for the business.
“Across the country, we’re adhering to state government restrictions and implementing safe-dining procedures, yet with careful management of bookings and use of space, and the application of cutting-edge technology, we are seeing business back at pre-Covid levels, and at times it’s stronger than the same time last year, plus we are breaking revenue records across some brands in Sydney and Melbourne,” Mr Pash said. “As restrictions lift further across Queensland, we hope to see the same trends here.”
Mr Pash said the strong outlook had spurred the Group on to launch El Camino Cantina on the Gold Coast later in July, following the launch of Fratelli Fresh in the Sydney seaside suburb of Manly last week.
“New openings are few and far between right now, but we are cautiously optimistic that the easing of Queensland restrictions and re-opening of the border bodes well for our business,” he said.
“The Gold Coast is a fabulous destination for day trippers, interstate travellers and international visitors, and while the latter may not be able to visit the Coast any time soon, the region is certain to benefit from a boost in the number of Queenslanders exploring their own backyard, as well as from interstate visitors, while international travel is on hold.”
Rockpool Dining Group’s casual restaurants are all re-opening with contactless, tap & go, mobile phone order and payment technology by me&u, which negates the need for menus and manual cash or card transactions, which helps deliver a safe-dining experience. Other safe-dining measures include fewer tables at a safe social distance, additional cleaning measures, disposable and digital menus, and hand sanitisers in venues.
Despite the smaller number of diners allowed on site, the Group is maximising its bookings potential by utilising multiple spaces within a venue, establishing pop-ups at its own neighbouring venues that haven’t yet re-opened, reducing the duration of reservations to accommodate more sittings, and opening up later sitting times.
Media enquiries: Rockpool Dining Group Director of PR Rachel Lebihan | 0438 701 573 | [email protected].