Hotel boss backs letter

The town’s biggest hotel has joined the hospitality industry in taking a stand against strict Covid- 19 measures – now extended until next month.

The boss at Ayr’s 118- bed Mercure has joined another 100 hotels in backing a letter written to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that the rules, which prohibit the sale of alcohol in public areas to hotel guests, will lead to thousands of job losses because of a damaging drop in revenues.

The stricter rules put in place across the central belt of Scotland, which saw the closure of pubs, restaurants and hotels only allowed to serve evening meals to residents without alcohol, were due to expire on Monday but have been extended until November 2.

Mercure’s general manager, Lindsay Wilson, backed the campaign, led by Ballantrae’s Glenapp Castle managing director, in requesting the restrictions were reviewed.

Lindsay said: “I would appeal to the First Minister to review the guest restrictions currently imposed on hotels.

“We do not believe that there is any increased risk of guests contracting Covid- 19 by allowing alcohol to be consumed by hotel residents within the bar and lounge areas of hotels.

“Guests retire to their bedrooms in the evening and do not come in to contact with the general public.

“By imposing these restrictions on hotels, we are effectively eliminating our leisure base, which for a number of hotels is the bread and butter of their business.

“Without a leisure base, trading will become increasingly more challenging than it already is.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said the temporary restrictions would prevent a return to the dangerous level of infections that we experienced earlier this year and that £ 48m has been commited to help affected businesses and protect jobs.