The Empire strikes back!

Photo by Mike Moores

Mark and Amanda Flanigan keeping calm and serving takeaway food and drink from Cycles at the Empire in the times of COVID-19.

By Sharon Webb

IN THESE times of COVID-19 Deloraine’s Empire Hotel is no more. The bar is dark and empty. No tourists are staying in the accommodation upstairs. But over lunch and dinner times Cycles Café is buzzing with staff activity as the hotel morphs into a food and drinks takeaway and delivery. Under the rules to combat COVID-19, owners Amanda and Mark Flanigan have adapted, then adapted some more to keep the Empire going. The Empire strikes back! ‘We’re trying everything we can to support our employees and keep them in jobs,’ Mark said. ‘We decided to swing everything behind that. ‘Back in January when the virus kicked off I thought it would be a serious challenge for our business and it’s been a rollercoaster since then.’ Currently Cycles comes alive for lunch and dinner, with hygiene-conscious kitchen staff constantly using hand sanitiser and wiping down surfaces with spirits.

Customers phone in their order, paying by credit card on the phone. The chef jumps into action then Mark delivers the order to the customer’s front doorstep. ‘Delivery doesn’t take long because Deloraine’s a small place. People from further away tend to order by phone then drive in to collect. Today we had someone from Dunorlan come in.’ The best part is the conversation on the doorstep when he delivers, Mark said. ‘It’s a nice feeling because Deloraine’s really got behind us. We feel connected and people are still trying to connect with us.

‘The first few days were slow but it’s really picked up. The support we’ve had is really great and hopefully it will keep going. ‘We feel helpful and cheerful – it’s a good feeling. What we’re doing allows people to isolate but stay in touch.’ Cycles’ continued operation is in question, depending on whether the government allows businesses to do takeaway food in the future. ‘It’s a weird time to be operating a business,’ Mark said. ‘Early on we changed how the business operated – and then new announcements came and we had to change again.’ No doubt there will be new requirements and Cycles staff will rise again to the challenge.