Eating out: Darren Holroyd says demand is diminishing in Geelong for fine-dining restaurants.
ERIN PEARSON
THE TOP end of Geelong’s restaurant industry is battling a shift in demand, according to industry representatives.
They blamed a trend toward casual dining after Yarra Street restaurant Riviera became the latest up-market venue to close following Pettevel and Ushers in May and April respectively.
Golden Plate Awards organiser Pam Jewson noted a “big shift” toward middle-range, casual dining in Geelong.
“Fine dining is now being seen more as occasional dining and people are shifting toward relaxed, contemporary dining,” she said.
“That’s why we’re seeing expensive places struggle a bit. We’re finding people are eating out more but they’re going to that middle-range destination – they don’t want linen tablecloths.”
Ms Jewson said many nominees in this year’s Golden Plate Awards were steering away from the fine-dining tag.
“They’re saying ‘Don’t put us in fine-dining category because we don’t want to scare customers off. We want to be in the relaxed contemporary category’,” she said.
“These people understand where the trend lies and the smart ones are starting to adapt.”
Geelong Nightlife Association President Darren Holroyd said changing trends and tough financial pressures were evident in the city’s restaurant industry.
Mr Holroyd’s own venues, including The Pier and The Edge, were “trying to go with the majority”.
“That’s how we see our venues succeeding,” he said.
“The fine-dining market is limited and there just isn’t the demand in Geelong for a lot of them.”
Ian Tomkins, who owns up-market Geelong restaurant Empire Grill, said fine dining establishments must “build trust” with customers to remain competitive.
“We try and keep things consistent to cater for that,” he said.
“Geelong still has opportunities for fine dining restaurants but a lot of boutique competition is popping up.”
