SERVE & PROTECT
Traders hoping for local support as doors reopen
Strath businesses are pulling out all the stops to ensure customers feel as safe as possible now coronavirus pandemic rules are easing.
A whole host of measures have been implemented as the country attempts to get the economy back into gear while ensuring the Covid-19 crisis is kept at bay.
Crieff Visitor Centre owner Stuart McLaren is hoping the extensive effort will give customers the confidence to support the town’s businesses at a crucial time.
He said: “We’ve done quite a lot to make it as safe as we possibly can.
“It will take a while for everyone to become confident again about coming out.
“We are confident we are doing everything we can – what else can we do?”
And Kayleigh Keith of The Tower Gastro Pub added: “Everyone knows their own venue best and what will work in some places won’t work in others but the main thing is everyone in the hospitality industry wants to give their customers the best experience possible – that’s always been the case.”
Strath businesses are hoping to continue receiving local support as confidence grows and people adjust to the new ways of getting out and about as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
Pubs, hotels and restaurants welcomed back customers – albeit with socially-distanced measures in place – as the country moved into phase three of the ‘route map’ out of the coronavirus lockdown from Wednesday last week.
In Crieff, proprietors Kayleigh Keith and Craig Gillespie of The Tower Gastro Pub were pleased to see customers in the bar again, following the successful reopening of the beer garden earlier in the month.
Additional signage and hand sanitising stations are in place once inside the East High Street premises, and it is table service only until further advice is issued by the authorities.
In addition, a new app means drinks can be ordered to the table using a mobile phone.
Kayleigh said the response had been positive so far and that she was particularly pleased to have already taken bookings for The Tower’s rooms from people opting to enjoy a short break in Scotland rather than travelling abroad.
She continued: “Everyone knows their own venue best and what will work in some places won’t work in others but the main thing is everyone in the hospitality industry wants to give their customers the best experience possible – that’s always been the case.
“One of the good things, if you can put it like that, about all this is that it has given us time to stop, think and maybe bounce a few ideas around.
“But you’re in this line of work because you like being around people so it’s good to be getting to see everyone again.”
Diners and pub-goers are also asked to leave contact details as part of the Scottish
Government’s ‘Test and Protect’ policy and wear their masks when not at their table if seated inside.
Extra precautions at venues include one-way systems, menus being mounted on the walls, regular disinfection and the use of screens.
Further up the hill at Crieff Hydro, the reopening of the hotel was heralded by traditional Scottish music.
It was a family affair with CEO Stephen Leckie and sons Charlie and Richard on pipes, and daughter Louisa on the side drum, providing the tunes as guests booked in.
They were joined by 15 year-old awardwinning Highland dancer Ellie Closs, who performed to their rendition of ‘Scotland the Brave’.
At the other end of town, Crieff Visitor Centre owner Stuart McLaren is hoping the extensive safety measures in place will give customers confidence to head out for a meal or coffee again.
He said: “We’re still here! We’ve done quite a lot to make it as safe as we possibly can. We were quiet last week and it picked up a bit over the weekend.
“It has been mostly regulars. We don’t expect to see coach parties this year so we just hope that we get other visitors through the door.”
The shop, garden centre and Caithness Glass are all open as well, although the viewing gallery and exhibition centre are still closed.
Stuart added: “It will take a while for everyone to become confident again about coming out.
“We were given a very nice review on Google with someone saying we had done a lot to make everyone feel safe.
“We have worked hard to put lots of safety measures in place, such as screens between the booths and at the counter, and we are disinfecting regularly.
“We are confident we are doing everything we can - what else can we do?”
It will take a while for everyone to become confident again about coming out Stuart McLaren