Inverness pubs gear up for 'Magic Monday'
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PUBS across the Highlands are gearing up to welcome customers back for the first time since lockdown began, with the reopening of beer gardens from Monday.
Landlords across the city have spent weeks preparing premises for reopening, introducing a range of measures to keep both staff and customers as safe as possible.
Key among the changes is the need to book ahead, as pubs will have limited space.
A key rule requiring people to meet up with no more than two other households while outdoors, and in groups no bigger than eight, also remains in place for now.
From Monday, pub customers will also need to continue to observe the two-metre social distancing rule.
However First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that that may be relaxed from the end of the week, with businesses which implement a range of agreed mitigation measures being allowed to follow a one-metre rule instead.
Craig MacLeod, of The Innes Bar in Innes Street, Inverness, said being able to reopen beer gardens was a step in the right direction.
“We are full steam ahead for Magic Monday,” he said.
“We have sorted out the beer garden and have a booking system in place as well as an ordering app almost ready to go live.
“There are plenty of hand sanitisation posts around the bar for the safety of our customers.
“We are also lucky enough to have separate doors for access and exit from the building and we are also going to have an outside space at the front of the building too.
“We are busy putting up new signage now, to help our customers return with ease.”
Don Lawson, who owns Johnny Foxes in Bank Street, had originally hoped to welcome customers back at the start of this week before First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a more cautious approach to easing lockdown.
He is delighted they have now been given the go-ahead though.
“People have missed their pub – there is a sentimental foundation over a pub, with social bonding,” he said.
With space limited he has also warned customers they will need to book in advance, while a one-way system for movement around the pub has also been implemented and staff have been equipped with PPE.
“It’s a change from what it used to be,” he admitted. “But the health and safety of staff and customers is the most important thing.”
At MacGregors Bar in Academy Street, owner Bruce MacGregor took to social media to explain the new arrangements to customers.
“We are really excited to be reopening but we are aware things have changed dramatically,” he said in the Facebook post.
Warning of the need to book ahead for a space, he said: “Don’t just drop in, because we will turn you away.”
The pub will also operate with an online menu and is encouraging contactless payments wherever possible.
Saying he had had a “quite amazing” level of interest from customers keen to know exactly when they can return, Mr MacGregor added: “These are exciting times and we are looking forward to welcoming people into our bar again.
“They want to feel safe – that is the key.”
Outdoor areas at the riverside Glen Mhor and Waterside Hotels will also reopen from Monday, where manager Emmanuel Moine said he was just waiting to see what the response would be.
“It is obviously related to the weather, but I can feel that people want to go out and socialise,” he said.
