Many Bright operators have shut temporarily or reverted to takeaway to deal with the surge in cases among staff and the community while the town's largest venue, Bright Brewery, remained open with a reduced menu and capacity.

Bright Brewery marketing manager Laura Gray said coronavirus had spread rapidly through Bright over the Christmas and New Year peak trading period.

"Lots of hospitality staff have tested positive or they're isolating because they're a close or household contact," she said.

"Every single venue has had to shut, cut their hours or move to a takeaway menu; it's been quite tragic for so many businesses."

Bright restaurant Tomahawks reverted to takeaway last week while Gum Tree Pies Bright closed temporarily this week.

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Ms Gray said the brewery remained open but there were some changes in light of crippling staff shortages.

"We normally have 55 kitchen and bar staff and today we have three chefs and three others in the kitchen, which is a quarter of what we normally have," Ms Gray said.

"We've had to shut off sections of the venue because we can't manage 500 people with six staff in the kitchen. People see free tables and they want to sit down and they can't understand it.

"We have young staff who have to roll up to work and it's very disappointing when they're on the receiving end (of verbal abuse).

"It's definitely a minority of customers but they're very vocal and it's a bit mind-boggling two years into the pandemic!"

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