Ross-shire hospitality trade left reeling by festive hammer blow from new coronavirus crisis amid cancellations and uncertainty over support
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HOSPITALITY businesses banking on a buoyant festive season after some of the toughest challenges in living memory have again been dealt a Christmas hammer blow by the coronavirus crisis.
Amid a spate of cancellations from customers reacting to Scottish Government advice on the omicron variant, some are questioning whether they will make it into the new year.
Angela Fulton, who recently took over management of the Mallard Bar in Dingwall with partner Richard Shanks, said: “My honest feeling is that this is ridiculous and has gone on long enough. We just need to live our lives.
“If it goes to table service that will really impact our bar. We have very few tables compared to our normal capacity.We’re only six weeks in and that would be the end of us, simple as that. I don’t think the grant assistance would be available to us as a new business.
“If we have to give our 28-day notice because we can’t financially do it, then that’s what we will have to do, but it is the last thing we want to see.”
Jock Urquhart of Ullapool’s Ceilidh Place admitted being "a bit bewildered", adding: "It really smacks of an attempt to be seen to be doing something, without the Scottish Government having the full economic clout to do a full shutdown.It is going to lead to awkwardness because it is just guidance, not law."
He said: "We’re a small establishment in a small village, but even we’ve had folk cancelling accommodation stays with us over the festive period, as well as social events being cancelled or reduced in capacity.While I understand them saying try not to socialise with more than three households at a time, it is hard to see how that works once you enter a group setting with other households.
“Public concerts up to 500 people, as far as I can see, are still exempt so it is confusing.”
Graham Rooney of Tain’s Platform 1864 is encouraged by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s pledge of £100 million to help the hospitality industry.
He said: “It was a bit of relief to know there would be some sort of grant payment available because we have lost at least 40 per cent, probably 50 per cent, of our bookings.We still have all the bills and wages to pay, so it is a bit of a worry.
“But if the financial help is forthcoming that would be a huge weight off our minds because last week, basically, our phones didn’t stop ringing with cancellations. It is just a disaster because, obviously, Christmas should be the time we make a good bit of money to see us through the leaner winter period.”
Mark Carrington, manager of the Applecross Inn, said: "We are going to continue to do what we have always done, which is to use screens, and to ask people to book ahead and have face masks, and sanitise areas regularly.There is a confusion when it comes to what is advice and what needs to be done legally and whose responsibility it is to police that."
He said: "Whatever we do, we will continue to offer great service in a safe and clean manner and we look forward to welcoming them when we can."
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