Eased coronavirus restrictions allow Warrnambool's Seanchai Irish Pub to soon re-open to 50 people

It will mark three months since national coronavirus restrictions forced the city's Seanchai Irish Pub to close and it's among the last bars in the city to re-open.

"Beer will be back on tap, and we'll turn the fridges back on," venue co-owner Josh O'Dowd said.

"It's going to be good going back to work."

Premier Daniel Andrews announced venues could increase seated numbers from 20 to 50 from Monday June 22, and offer patrons drinks without a meal if served at a table.

Mr O'Dowd said the Seanchai stayed closed as earlier restrictions eased because it wasn't viable with small numbers and the venue did not house its own kitchen.

"We just didn't think it was worth opening for 20 people," he said.

Mr O'Dowd said the eased restrictions meant the venue could host about 100 people split across two levels.

"It's going to be a very different operation to what we usually have," he said.

"Hopefully we get some musicians in here but there won't be a dance floor."

Venues are also required to collect contact details for each patron and the Seanchai expects to take booking particularly on Tuesday nights.

But even with increased customers Mr O'Dowd said without restrictions easing further the venue, which can host 700, mightn't cover costs in coming months.

"If the numbers are still at 100 when JobKeeper finishes it's going to be hard for businesses to survive," he said.

"It's going to affect our business and a lot of others like the nightclub industry if we are stuck under 100, we just can't make the money."

Mr O'Dowd said venues like his would benefit from an extension to the JobKeeper scheme past September and from government assistance with rental payments.

The venue has 12 workers receiving JobKeeper payments and before closing had a team of more than 40 that it hopes to re-employ.

"We are more of a weekend venue, a lot of our staff have other jobs and been able to survive," Mr O'Dowd said.

From next Monday libraries, community centres, halls, cinemas, concert venues, theatres and religious ceremonies can open to 50 people.

Indoor sports centres and physical recreation spaces like gyms can open to 20 people per space, with a cap on groups of 10 for those aged over 18.

Mr Andrews warned protections against the pandemic were "not over yet" and urged adherence to hand washing, distancing and using the COVIDSafe app.

"For every small step we take, our own personal responsibility grows," he said.

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