The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Hospitality’s relief as curbs to be lifted
Businesses have been reacting after a number of restrictions that have been negatively impacting the hospitality industry are to be lifted.
During a December briefing, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that all indoor and outdoor public events were to have a cap on numbers from December 26 for three weeks due to concern over the Omicron surge.
Restrictions were reintroduced in hospitality settings serving alcohol for consumption on the premises, including a requirement for one-metre distancing and table service only.
Ms Sturgeon also advised that no more than three households should meet at indoor public places at one time.
However, these measures are to be lifted from Monday, which has come as welcome news to hospitality bosses in
Dundee and surrounding areas.
Howard Airhumwunde, of Afrobeats in Dundee’s Session Street, said he felt excited hearing the news and is looking forward to Monday for both the business and his customers.
“We are very optimistic. It’s been almost a month and a half since the restrictions were put in place and it’s been damaging to our business,” Howard said.
“Covid has really affected us because it feels like we have been physically targeted. We cannot plan ahead or organise our financial focus, and it has also affected our staff as well because it reduced our work rate.”
Table service, he explained, has been a “disaster” and “impractical” to try and adjust as it is not part of their business model, adding that the announcement is a “big weight off our shoulders”.
In regards to isolation,
Howard hopes the move will reduce the struggles staff are experiencing with the entire team having to isolate at times.
“We are looking forward to it and for everyone to have a good time in a safe environment,” he added.
Tony Cochrane, owner of Club Tropicana & Venga in Dundee, believes that the first minister should have acted more quickly in ending the restrictions.
“It’s good to hear but I think the restrictions were held a week too long,” he said.
With the restrictions on isolation, Tony said: “Anything that helps people get out and about is good for us.”
This is the response he hopes to receive in both his Dundee and Aberdeen venues in the coming weeks.
The feeling of relief spread across the hospitality industry, with pubs and bars being equally happy about the decision.
David Taylor, manager of the Bank Bar & Beer Garden in Perth, said: “I am over the moon with the announcement. I cannot wait to go back to normal bar service.
“I cannot wait for nightclubs to be open again and from our business point of view, what she has said today is absolutely amazing.
“Obviously, the restrictions have been hard, we have still encouraged customers to use the table service and the app to order. It’s just been more and more restrictions on hospitality.”
He continued: “The big advantage for us is being able to use our outdoor seating area as we can sit 200 outdoors and 100 indoors.”
David feels the reduced restrictions on table service will ease the pressure for staff and allow for a more relaxed environment of being able to order from the bar.