BORDER publicans are doing business not as usual in a bid to ride out the coronavirus pandemic.
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With relaxed liquor licence rules, some hotels are now offering takeaway alcohol, pre-mixed drinks and even cocktails.
Others have adapted their menus for takeaway and home delivery; some reaching outlying farms in their district.
Rutherglen's Poachers Paradise Hotel lessees Chris and Laura Stewart and Chris' chef brother Shane will introduce a weekly takeaway food and drink menu from Thursday night.
Chris said Parma Thursday would allow people to pick up their favourite pub meal and takeaway beer, ready to drink beverages or soft drink.
Having worked in London gastropubs and restaurants for more than a decade, Shane will offer parmigiana staples such as schnitzel, traditional, Hawaiian, Mexican, Aussie, meat lovers and hunters (caramelised onion and cheese).
"People can pre-order and pay over the phone or order when they come in," he said.
"They can pick up meals in the dining room and leave via the beer garden to keep them moving.
"It's the first time we are doing it and it will just help us pay the power bill."
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Chris said their landlords had stopped charging them rent since COVID-19 public health orders shut hotels and cafes.
A plumber by trade, Chris said they now had time to do some odd jobs around the hotel.
"We've been doing some maintenance around the pub like cleaning carpets and hanging blinds; we'd already done up the bathrooms," Chris said.
"So we're feeling positive about the future."
Having taken over the Poachers Paradise lease about 18 months ago, the family business bought the Farmers Arms Hotel at Tocumwal in November.
They will offer a takeaway and home delivery menu at Tocumwal on Friday and Saturday nights from this week.
Chris said pub fare included ragu pappardelle, schnitzel and steak sandwiches with pizza from next week.
"We'll be delivering to Tocumwal and the surrounding properties within about 10 kilometres," he said.
The Albion Hotel Albury owner Lisa Sawyer had run the business for about six months when they closed on March 23 due to COVID-19.
She said patrons could still support them through For The Love Of Your Local campaign.
"CUB has got on board by offering two pints of Carlton Draught for $10," she said.
"You pay for a voucher now and get two beers when the trading ban is lifted. We get the income as people purchase to help us pay for expenses like utilities."
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