HOTELS UP IN ARMS OVER GUEST BOOZE BAN
BOSSES at Scotland’s most prestigious hotels have called for changes to new coronavirus restrictions which ban them from selling alcohol to guests outside their rooms.
In a letter to Nicola Sturgeon, 100 hotels said a ban on serving alcohol to guests in public areas could lead to cancellations. Under current rules, hotels can only serve alcohol to guests in their rooms through room service.
Hotels, including the Prestonfield in Edinburgh,
One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow, The Fairmont in St Andrews and The Marcliffe in Aberdeen signed the letter.
It comes following warnings from Fergus Ewing, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, that there is no guarantee that pubs and restaurants in the Central Belt will reopen in two weeks.
Jill Chalmers, the managing director of Glenapp Castle near Ballantrae, Ayrshire, wrote the letter, which has also been signed by The George Hotel and the Royal
Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh.
The letter states: “Not being able to sell alcohol in public areas to hotel residents in Scotland negatively impacts their stay and future guests are already starting to cancel their bookings.”