Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has confirmed pubs and clubs will join cafes and restaurants in providing dining as part of the state government's push to boost the economy.

Mr Perrottet says the venues will be able to open from Friday as long as they adhere to social distancing requirements and stick to a limit of 10 customers at any given time.

Bars and gaming facilities will remain closed but table service for alcohol with a meal will be allowed, along with takeaway services.

Read more: Some restrictions on NSW pubs, clubs eased

Licensee of the Flower Hotel Group Alistair Flower said the easing of restrictions on pubs and clubs is a step in the right direction and now allows individual businesses to make a choice.

"It's good that everyone is on a level playing field. It didn't make sense that a cafe could open for breakfast but a larger venue, with good space for social distancing, couldn't open for lunch," Mr Flower said.

"It's a good small step for the hospitality industry and a move in the right direction."

Read more: Beers, parmas are back on the menu, but hold up, says Berejiklian

The owner of Settlers Inn and Fernhill Tavern in Port Macquarie, the Hastings Hotel in Wauchope and Lake Cathie Tavern at Lake Cathie, said he will probably hold off for another week or more before making any decisions about opening.

"You can't come to the bar and you need to have people on to do table service. It's very labour intensive to service 10 people," Mr Flower said.

"I don't see larger venues taking this on as an option but it's good they have the choice.

"For many, the challenge is running a different type of business than they are used to. Some local businesses have never worked so hard just to do takeaways. You might get an additional bill paid but at the end of the day you are just making ends meet.

"Most people are doing it just to stay relevant."

Read more: Back in business as Hastings cafes, restaurants lead the way

Mr Flower said the community and businesses must respect this has to be a gradual approach and adhering to government guidelines is critical in making the easing of restrictions work and keep progress moving forward.

"We are a very regulated and community conscious industry and are prepared to follow the guidelines correctly," he added.

AHA CEO Stephen Ferguson, critical of the government's original plan to leave pubs and clubs until stage 3 of the restrictions rollback, said the sector had always supported the health measures which had seen a flattening of the COVID curve in Australia.

He said the road to re-opening the Australian economy seems to be riddled with inconsistencies as to how different industries are treated and certainty was needed for thousands of mum and dad operators across Australia who were suddenly forced to close their businesses more than a month ago.

Mr Flower commended the AHA for its stance when the three-stage restriction rollback plan was announced.

"I commend the AHA for the pressure they put on the government, and I commend the government for listening and working with us to take the first steps," he said.

Mr Flower said innovation will be crucial in the recovery process for the hospitality industry.

Read more: Alistair Flower says Hastings business must plant seeds for future

AHA NSW and National President Scott Leach said the industry is the heart of the community in regional areas, many of which are clear of COVID-19.

"During times of emergency like the recent bushfires, pubs are the places people turn to for help - we are the centre of our towns and suburbs and proudly so," he said.

"That's why we were amongst the first to act to close down and protect people from the pandemic. I can assure you as a publican, our industry is not in "hibernation" - your typical country pub is losing around $30,000 each month and many of them are located in places which have never even seen a case of COVID-19.

"If Australia wants their local to make it through this crisis and be there for the recovery we need a bit of support - there really is a limit to how much debt we can take before many of us have to close for good."

Figures released last week by AHA NSW show that of approximately 75,000 hotel and pub workers employed pre-crisis - a total of 94 per cent or approximately 70,452 have been stood down or terminated.

Port Macquarie Golf Club and The Westport Club will not be opening under the 10-person dining limit and have indicated they will await further direction from the government as the staged rollback continues.

Wauchope Country Club has used the time to upgrade its kitchen facilities while Laurieton United Services Club has taken its mega weekly raffles online.

Panthers Port Macquarie, Port City Bowling Club and the Macquarie Hotel (except for the bottle shop) remain closed.

Read more: Open for Business: your free directory to Port Macquarie business and how you can support them

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