Star guests up free lunch
East Park has been providing education and accommodation for children and young people with special needs including autism since 1874.
Support worker Michelle Devlin said: “The bar phoned the school and asked if pupils and staff would like to go for a free lunch over the course of three days.
“A lot of our young people cannot go to unfamiliar places but the kids behaved amazingly and enjoyed a starter, main course and dessert with unlimited drinks. I cannot believe how hospitable the staff were and the food was amazing.
“I think it is so kind for a place in the community to do something like this for us.”
Dougie Hamilton is manager of the Viking, where he has worked for the past nine years.
He said: “This place opened as a bar in October 1961 and has never served food so Monday was the first time meals have been served but the nature of the pub business has changed.
“We thought it would be a good gesture to our neighbours to invite them in for a free lunch on Monday , Tue s day a nd Wednesday this week before going live to the public on Thursday.
“It was a good atmosphere as the kids don’t always get the chance to sit together.
“It also gave us an opportunity to put out some food for the first time. It is not the biggest of kitchens and with everything coming out at the same time it was a bit frantic but it worked.
“Sometimes taking autistic children out of their known circumstances can be stressful for them but the kids all behaved really well.”