No reopening rush to hospitality and retail

ABOUT 40 per cent of hospitality businesses took less than a fifth of their normal income in the first week of restrictions easing, a survey found.

The figure, from the Scottish Tourism Alliance, comes as industry leaders say ongoing measures, such as social distancing, are deterring customers since they reopened from April 26. Chief executive Marc Crothall said: ‘The ability to serve alcohol with food would make a tremendous difference to bookings.’

The plea comes as high street footfall rose last month by 14.2 per cent from March as retail restrictions eased but it was still 52.1 per cent below pre-pandemic levels, say the Scottish Retail Consortium and Sensormatic IQ.

Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive Dr Liz Cameron said while bigger chains had also suffered ‘it is the smaller retailers who face the greatest challenge’.