Far easier to go to pubs in Albury than Wodonga this weekend

All of Albury's major venues will be open on Saturday, with Zed Bar to serve patrons for several hours after the easing of restrictions at midnight tonight.

Venues including the SS&A Club, Commercial Club, Beer Deluxe, Sodens, Springdale Heights Tavern and more will be able to fit as many people as social distancing caps allow.

Restrictions allow for one person every four square metres inside and two square metres outside.

But some venues across the border are choosing to stay shut, with only 10 people allowed inside and 20 in outdoor areas.

Birallee Tavern owner Ben Stewart said his business had struggled when it had a capacity of 100, and it would be unviable to open with just 30 people.

"We desperately want to open, but it's impossible," he said.

"It would be a 10 per cent capacity of one of our busy nights.

"And how do you choose the lucky 10 who come inside?

"It's a situation where we don't want to be picking and choosing between customers."

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The Union Hotel at Tangambalanga wrote on social media the Victorian restrictions were "a joke".

Member for Indi Helen Haines said for many businesses, the restrictions were "no better than being in lockdown", while Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said the rules were "unviable for most".

"I have been inundated by local pubs, restaurants and wineries who say they simply cannot afford to open up under these rules," he said.

Wodonga venues including the Blazing Stump, Elgin's, Huon Hill, Church St and Goods Shed are open, some with limited hours.

Meanwhile Albury venue owners were keenly anticipating the re-opening.

"It's been a long time coming," Zed Bar owner Brian Grenfell said.

"This is a multimillion dollar business and being closed for four weeks puts a lot of financial pressure on us.

"We've got to get back into the swing of things and live as normal a life as we can with the restrictions.

"We've been behind the 8-ball for some time and we need to do what we can to get the business back to making money.

"We're really excited to be reopening."

He urged people not to break lockdown rules before midnight to attend the venue.

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