Restaurants and bars angered by no-shows
people, not show up or cancel at the last minute.
“I personally emailed every booking asking to cancel by lunchtime if they were going to.
“Like all bars and restaurants, we’ve been burning through money in the last four months.
“This is our chance, not to make a profit but to make less of a loss.
“We’re trying to do the right thing and follow the guidelines. Asking people to book means we can make it safe. We can get their contact details at the time of booking for contact and trace if needed.
“The attitude of some people is poor. This will cause businesses to crumble and people could lose jobs at a very swift rate.”
Rachel Feighery, manager of The Ivory Hotel in Glasgow’s Langside, said: “It’s frustrating
– we’vewe’vehadafewno-hadafewno-shows for food and it makes things difficult. But we’re lucky we’re still doing walk-ins for the bar.”
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has offered discounts on meals as part of his Eat Out to Help Out programme to help boost the hospitality sector.
Restaurants participating would be able to offer half-price meals every Monday to Wednesday throughout August and an the discount would be paid back ba by the Government within five fiv working days.
He also reduced VAT from 20 per cent to five per cent in a bid bi to kickstart the sector.
Scottish Labour’s finance spokeswoman sp Jackie Baillie said sa no- shows were “bad for business” bu and urged customers to back restaurants by turning up or cancelling well in advance.
She said: “It’s been a really tough to time for businesses that have ha closed down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the hospitality sector has been particularly badly affected.
“This period is critical for them, so no-shows from people who have made bookings will just add to financial hardship.
“We can all play our part. If you’re booking a table please go or, if you can’t, then make sure you cancel it well in advance.”