Owner and director of Two Doors and the Red Barrel restaurants, Donnamaree O'Neill announced on Sunday evening via their Facebook page that they would be closing their doors permanently.

"It has been overwhelming, absolutely overwhelming," an emotional Ms O'Neill told the Daily Liberal.

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With the current restrictions in place due to COVID-19, Ms O'Neill said they could no longer continue with their current business model of shared to the table food service.

"We were advised by NSW Health that we would no longer be able to serve food in our current model, so we had to change," she said.

"We were obviously holding on since March to see if that was going to change and basically shared to the table food, buffets, grazing tables and all that kind of food is still restricted.

"And we just couldn't keep paying rent for a building that we couldn't open."

Ms O'Neill said that she and staff discussed changing the model, however weighed up the options and found profitability wasn't there.

"To do the same style of menu that we wanted to do that suited our venue, and suited us as a team, we had to basically serve our tapas as individual meals to the table," she said.

"So instead of serving a six-course tapas meal experience to the centre of the table, and encouraging conversation and catching up with family and friends while you're nibbling food ... that whole concept had to change.

"So it's a lot more staffing, a lot more serving, a lot more clearing, washing up etc, so profitability just wasn't going to be in there."

However Ms O'Neill said she was "overwhelmed" by the support she has received since making the announcement, and said it had been one of the things that helped her through the tough times.

"I'm really touched, and it's really sad, but you know life goes on and I'm really, really, from the bottom of my heart very touched by everyone's kind words and best wishes, it just helps a in a tough time and really shows how much community support really matters."

Ms O'Neill and her husband Martin purchased the business in July 2016, but re-branded a year later becoming Dubbo's latest wine and tapas lounge. In 2018 the couple purchased its sister business the Red Barrel located above.

After five busy years, Ms O'Neill remains positive for the future and is looking forward to the next chapter.

"I can see were not the only ones, businesses are closing in Dubbo every day, and I've had nine phone calls from businesses in Dubbo that are feeling the same feeling I'm feeling, it's just tough out there," she said.

"Things happen for a reason, doors close, it enables doors to open, and more pages in your story to write."

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