Inverness businesses are keen to reopen following First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's announcement which outlined a roadmap for the return to normal life with the easing of Scotland’s second national coronavirus lockdown
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City business owners are gearing up to welcome customers back after dates were set for the easing of Scotland’s second national Covid-19 lockdown.
Some were surprised at last week’s announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as she outlined a roadmap for the return to normal life – with some dates for reopenings earlier than expected.
Tony Story, who owns the Kingsmills and Ness Bank hotels in Inverness, welcomed the news and said: “It’s terrific, it’s eminently sensible and it was more than we were hoping for.”
He said it was anticipated that staycations would be the prevailing tourist trend this year, and added: “Another big thing is we are anticipating not only travel throughout Scotland, but travel throughout the United Kingdom.
“We’ve got six weeks before we get the go-ahead to open and we have got to get the infection rates down to make sure that we can stay open.”
Tom Campbell, executive chairman of North Coast 500 Ltd, said: “It is really encouraging to see positive steps in the reopening of the hospitality and tourism sectors and while there is still caution, businesses and communities now have the ability to plan for a relaxation in the restrictions.
“While we have consistently said that everyone needs to follow the government guidelines, it can be said now with a positive approach and belief that the reopening of these local businesses, that are vital to the Highlands economy, is in sight.”
Dean Sutherland, who runs Forge Gym in Carsegate Road, Inverness, however, had been hoping to be allowed to reopen earlier than now looks likely for his sector.
“We were hoping we were going to get the 12th [of April] because that is when English gyms are opening,” he said.
He has put lockdown to good use, however, undertaking a £30,000 refurbishment of his premises.
“The only benefit to us is we’ve managed to refurb the whole gym since taking it over,” he said.
“Because we were shut there was nothing else to do, so that has been a bonus for us. We are actually going to release a promo video in the next couple of weeks and we are running quite a few competitions online just to try and get people to come back. A lot of our members haven’t even seen it and they won’t recognise it when they come back.”
