<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive:</span></strong><span> A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/rba-surcharges-proposal-nsw-pub-owner-says-customers-will-pay-more/ede51b8d-a09c-436d-912b-776a012c8a99" rel="" target="_blank" title="regional pub owner"><span>regional pub owner</span></a><span> is pleading with Australians to head to their local venues after being forced to raise menu prices amid dwindling profits.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former nurses Jayde Moore and her partner Cath Bates purchased the Royal Hotel Harrisville in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="_blank" title="Queensland's"><span>Queensland's</span></a><span> Scenic Rim, around 67 kilometres from Brisbane, four years ago in a bid to breathe new life into the historic pub.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the expected </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/coronavirus" rel="" target="_blank" title="post-COVID travel boom"><span>post-COVID travel boom</span></a><span> hasn't been enough to get customers through the doors, with tables and barstools sitting empty almost every day.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/uk-eta-dual-citizen-rule-expired-passport-loophole-explained/f67b643f-992d-4e6d-930e-997dfe3dcf20" rel="" target="_blank" title="Mass confusion among expats over expired passport loophole"><strong><span>Mass confusion among expats over expired passport loophole</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Moore told </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="_blank" title="nine.com.au"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span> that weekly trade has plunged by between 20 and 30 per cent in the last 18 months and the couple fear they may not stay afloat for much longer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our last menu that we put out at the end of October, we did raise prices," Moore said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And if I thought it wouldn't negatively affect us, I would put another new menu out and raise prices now, but I think that would do more harm than good."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/harrisville-pub-queensland-owner-plea-as-country-pubs-struggle-to-stay-afload/53d3c499-0b0c-4818-bba1-9373c9b14286" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Harrisville has a population of around 700 people and the Royal Hotel is one of just two pubs in town.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Country pubs are the lifeblood of small regional towns like Harrisville.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They're the ones that hold all the history in the community and hold the spirit of the community," Moore said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This pub has been standing for 150 years. So you can imagine if the walls could talk, what they would say."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The couple has worked hard to keep the doors open but spending habits have changed dramatically.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/pokemon-card-trading-how-lucy-makes-six-figures-buying-selling-cards-online/fa14a3d5-4369-46d6-b8e5-7f298be950cb" rel="" target="_blank" title="Lucy earns more cash trading Pokémon cards than from her 9 to 5 job"><strong><span>Lucy earns more cash trading Pokémon cards than from her 9 to 5 job</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Moore blames rising interest rates, the cost of living crisis and a cultural shift away from pub visits.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said a lot of people would rather spend their money on McDonald's or KFC for a quick meal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once upon a time, a customer would order a garlic bread for entree, then they'd get a main meal, have a couple of drinks, maybe even a dessert," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Whereas now we're seeing people come in one drink, a main meal and that's it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People would prefer at the moment to spend their money with a multinational company than a small family business that is your local country pub."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Moore said the cripping taxes placed on small businesses is also partly to blame.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The tax on small business is ridiculous," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They really need to do something about that because there is tax on everything.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>To give you an example, beer tax, alcohol tax... it's horrendous."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the government has provided temporary relief to draught beer drinkers with a two-year excise freeze, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-spirits-tax-set-to-push-up-prices-in-australia/0b51ed7c-c339-47a8-9ff9-1b846df9c3a8" rel="" target="_blank" title="the tax on spirits was raised earlier this month."><span>the tax on spirits was raised earlier this month.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Spirits are now taxed at $107.99 per litre in line with a twice-a-year inflation increase.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If business doesn't pick up, Moore said she and Bates may have to visit their exit plan.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They aren't alone.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pub owners all around Australia are "doing it tough", Moore explained.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said some industry colleagues have seen a revenue drop of around 50 per cent per week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One in nine hospitality businesses went insolvent in 2025, according to peak hospitality body the Australian Restaurant &amp; Cafe Association (ARCA).</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're trying to get the word out to say that country pubs are doing it tough, we're a living, breathing piece of Australian history and for people to get out and support us," she added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>