The pandemic has disrupted the hospitality industry, and it goes without saying that people stayed away from going out eating and club-hopping. Even the best restaurants, pubs, and clubs were shut down during lockdowns and did little business during the pandemic. But now, the times have changed, and the hospitality business is heaving a sigh of relief.

Once again, one can hear the happy chatter at restaurants, clinking of glasses at the city’s watering holes and the clubs are full of revelers who want to make up for all that they had missed due to the pandemic. Some of the biggest clubs and restaurants are doing good business, and the owners say they are hoping to make profits on par with pre-Covid days.

The weekends are the times when the restaurants, pubs, and clubs are making the most money, and the owners share that there has been an increase of 30 percent in footfall. Apart from repeat customers, many are requesting reservations, say the owners.

While many restaurants had to shut shop during the pandemic, some restaurants and pubs managed to pull on till June 2021. However, just as they were expecting brisk business, Omicron came about, and the business was almost nil once again as people did not want to risk going out and catching the virus.

Now, with Omicron abating, people are once again showing interest in socializing, and many are trying to make up for the lost time. As for restaurants, pubs, and clubs, the managements are following COVID protocols, and they maintain people are quite conscious of themselves. In fact, the club owners say they have changed seating arrangements, so people can dance at their tables.

Another plus for restaurants has been the return of techie crowds from their hometowns as the WFH option has been ended by most IT companies. Those in the hospitality industry are also trying to woo guests with live shows and gigs. With Holi round the corner, some restaurants, pubs, and clubs are arranging Holi parties, and they say they have all protocols in place.