00:01They're the places where people party in Hobart.
00:05But today seven bars and restaurants at Salamanca, The Waterfront and North Hobart have packed
00:11up shop.
00:12It's a shock obviously and it's something we heard first thing this morning so firstly
00:16feel for the owners and all the staff concerned.
00:18The affected venues is the Observatory Bar where Brittany McNeil performed as DJ Visor
00:24several times a month.
00:25It's a very big blow to not just people that go out but mainly like security, the bar staff
00:33and DJs, musicians and anyone else that works in the hospitality industry.
00:39More than 80 staff have been stood down across the seven venues with the operators, the pub
00:45bank and hotel bank groups, blaming rising operating expenses and changing consumer behaviour
00:51for their decision to go into voluntary administration.
00:54To lose those sort of businesses in the capital of Tasmania in the prime hospitality precinct
00:59is a massive hit.
01:00Hopefully it's something we can overcome but I think it just shows everyone that hospitality
01:04is doing it tough at the moment.
01:05The tourism industry says it's vital that all levels of government do what they can to support
01:10the night time economy.
01:12We need to invest in our marketing, we need to invest in events because that is going to
01:17get visitors here and they will generate extra money into our community.
01:21The administrators say an urgent sale process is now underway with the hope of reopening the
01:27venues under new management as soon as possible.
01:30But for now the doors of some of Hobart's biggest entertainment venues remain closed.
01:35which is a special thing to take care of these people.
01:36We need to cover these agreements.
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