Café shuts over ‘ lack of respect’

Café owners in a popular Highland tourist spot say customers have shown “a total lack of respect” for safety rules, forcing them to close doors for the second time since lockdown was enforced.

Guy and Zoe Kerry, who run Lael Crafts Gallery and coffee stop in Ullapool, reopened for service in July after months of waiting for restrictions to ease since the pandemic hit Scotland.

But after one month of resuming service, the couple said they reached their limits chasing customers for not following their safety rules and decided to shut again on Wednesday.

“We came to the end of our tether in just a month,” said Mr Kerry, 62, who has been living in the area with his wife for 20 years.

“We became so frustrated and annoyed by the numbers of ‘ covidiots’ coming into the shop and ignoring everything we have put in place to keep us and our customers safe. We could no longer keep smiles on our faces. The ignorance of some people has been astounding and we feel unsafe, unsettled and disrespected.”

The disgruntled couple will be revising over the weekend whether or not it is safe enough for them to resume service again this season.

The Kellys said their concern for their own health and that of the community was the reason behind their strict measures.

“I have medical issues which scares me, and people are coming from all over the UK so there is of course a risk,” Mr Kelly said. “We are getting people who are meant to be on Costa Del Sol coming here, and many don’t realise the Highlands of Scotland is not one of those places where everything you need is on the same street.”

The café owners said installing hand sanitiser machines, screens and converting their payment system to contactless cost them about £ 2,000.