Hospitality bosses face winter battle
Trade fights bleak outlook
Pub and hospitality bosses fear it could be the SPRING before they emerge from tough Covid restrictions on their businesses.
Bars and restaurants across Scotland’s central belt had to close on October 9 as part of a “short, sharp action” in response to an increase of coronavirus infections.
But with Ayrshire and Arran placed on level 3 of the new five- tier system, which came into force on Monday, the region continues to see many traders closed with a reopening date left in limbo.
Some firms pulled up the shutters again this week in a bid to generate limited levels of trade.
But they warned the ever- changing landscape – with fears of even tougher to follow in the days and weeks ahead – has left them on the edge.
Jon Neil, general manager of Ayr’s Arthur Street Kitchen ( ASK), says restricted opening hours and a ban on booze makes it increasingly difficult for firms to remain open.
He told the Post: “The current rules, meaning we have to shut at 6pm and can’t serve alcohol, makes it very difficult to justify opening at all.
“We’ve given it a go across all of our venues this week and hopefully there will be a good response.
“But there’s no denying it’s so difficult for all of us.
“And with Christmas effectively cancelled in the hospitality trade, it’s tough to try and stay positive.”
Jon admits the winter months will prove a further hurdle with darker hours against them.
He said: “When we reopened in summer there was an incentive; it was hot, sunny, the gardens were open and people had been cooped up for four or five months.
“But asking people to come out during these new operating hours, when many are working, is a different story.
“We’ just feel hospitality has been strangled.” The restaurant manager is concerned the health board may remain under tight restrictions for months yet.
Jon added: “She [ First Minister Nicola Sturgeon] did say that whatever level you go into, it could take four or five weeks – maybe even longer – before you’ll be able to reduce a tier.
“But you could be upped a tier at four days’ notice.
“I think level three and four should be shut down completely – it should be either open or closed with none of this middle ground.
“I would say we’d be in level three until the end of the year.
“I think you’ll see a lot of restaurants probably not bother.
“Takeaway shops are fine because they’ve got low rates.
“But the rent on Arthur Street is immense.
“It’s a massive, massive unit; it’s probably one of the biggest units in the town.”
The boss of Ayr’s biggest hotel said banning guests from consuming booze at the bar or lounge was killing off their leisure base.
Lindsay Wilson, general manager of the Mercure, said: “We do not believe that there is any increased risk of guests contracting Covid- 19 by allowing alcohol to be consumed by hotel residents within the bar and lounge areas of hotels.
“Guests retire to their bedrooms in the evening and do not come in to contact with the general public.
“By imposing these restrictions on hotels, we are effectively eliminating our leisure base, which for a number of hotels is the bread and butter of their business.
“Without a leisure base, trading will become increasingly more challenging than it already is.”
And Buzzworks chief Kenny Blair, a vocal critic of the Scottish Government’s approach towards hospitality during the pandemic, also fears a long road ahead.
He added: “We’ve reopened our venues this week and I still see a certain resilience among the public.
“But we know this is going to be a very uncertain winter for so many and the industry needs to be treated as far more of a solution.”