Ross-shire publicans welcome customers back and urge them to play vital role in Covid-19 safety push as coronavirus restrictions are eased
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DELIGHTED publicans across Ross-shire are excited to be welcoming customers back following lockdown – but have urged the public to do their part to stay safe and ensure doors can stay open.
Pubs are now able to begin serving customers indoors for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown back in March.
But in order to prevent flare-ups of the coronavirus, strict government guidelines mean that space will be limited indoors. There will also be hygiene stations, safety signs, and some will have protective screens and no standing at the bar.
Hostelries were only allowed to start serving outdoor custom a week last Monday and the public flocked to get their first pint pulled in a pub since the start of the lockdown but the popularity of watering holes brings its own problems.
“It is going to be strange but if everyone plays by the rules and does as they are told and follow the guidelines then we can beat this and get back to proper normality and that is what we all aspire to do." - Robert Hicks
Though largely well behaved, the volume of customers in some areas was larger than anticipated and publicans are wary of venturing into completely uncharted territory when the new rules, patrons and public meet for the first time inside.
The proprietors of two of the county’s best known and busiest establishments – the Mallard in Dingwall and the Arch Inn in Ullapool – are delighted at getting back to work, but also a little anxious.
Sean Kennedy, at the Mallard, believes the public has a major role to play in keeping the bar’s doors open as, with physical distancing, he has space for 40 people inside and another 20 people outside.
“I am happy about reopening but there is a certain amount of anxiety about it,” he said. “I feel we have made the Mallard as safe as we can for staff and punters but ultimately it is down to the public how safe it is.“The publicans are having to learn really fast how to do this in the best way.
"The bottom line is that we have to ask all our customers to please, please abide by the guidelines because it would be that easy for the authorities to close us down and nobody wants that.”
Robert Hicks at the Arch Inn, when asked whether he was looking forward to reopening or not, said: “Yes and no, weirdly it feels exactly like trying to get ready for a festival, that whole last minute craziness of getting everything done. I am looking forward to getting some structure back for our day.
“I am more looking forward to taking down the perspex and all the other measures and getting back to normality but it is a halfway house at the moment but it is still a welcome step.
“It is going to be a gradual opening, we are also full for accommodation, but we don’t know how full we are going to be for dinner, we are going to take it gradually and we made quite a few changes to how our business is going to operate.
“We spent the last three or four weeks ready to protect staff and customers alike.
“It is going to be strange but if everyone plays by the rules and does as they are told and follow the guidelines then we can beat this and get back to proper normality and that is what we all aspire to do.
“We want it to be as pleasurable an experience as possible working within the guidelines for visitors and for the people we serve in the local area.”
How has it been for your business in Ross-shire? Get in touch by emailing hector.mackenzie@hnmedia.co.uk
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