Inverness pubs get ready for reopening in anticipation of coronavirus lockdown easing
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Pub landlords and bar owners in Inverness are gearing up to reopen their doors as soon as possible.
But many say they need more guidance from the Scottish Government before they start pulling pints again.
As the death rate from coronavirus continues to ease and lockdown measures are slowly lifted, many businesses are already exploring how they can protect staff and customers if and when they are allowed to operate once more.
It is now widely expected pubs in England will be allowed to reopen in some form from July 4, creating an expectation that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will outline similar moves for Scotland when restrictions are next reviewed here, on June 18.
Highland Council is moving ahead with plans to make city streets more Covid-friendly, with measures to close city centre roads to traffic in the evenings expected to make life easier for many businesses by increasing the outdoor space available to them.
Bruce MacGregor of MacGregors Bar in Academy Street has been exploring measures for reopening including providing PPE for staff as well as implementing new cleaning regimes.
He said: “We need to get this right.”
Initially, Mr MacGregor said, the plan is to open on weekends only, using the pub’s beer garden.
“Staffing is going to be difficult, going from full time to part time, but I don’t think we can judge anything until we hear on June 18 because that is the next announcement,” he said.
“We are going to have everything in place and right.”
Owner of Johnny Foxes, Don Lawson, recently announced it would be ready to reopen early next month.
“One of the key measures will be table service only, so customers will not be permitted to stand at the bar,” he said.
“The pub will look different because of the signage and distancing markers, and also less tables and chairs, but we aim to make it as welcoming as ever.
“We are on course to be open at noon on Wednesday, July 1 for alfresco drinking and dining only – in fact we have several bookings already for day one, an indication that people have missed the pub in the same way I have missed people.”
Emmanuel Moine, the manager of the Glen Mhor and Waterside Hotels which have a restaurant, two bars and function rooms, said: “We’ve seen numerous businesses closing.
“We have to reopen bars and restaurants as soon as possible – it is vital for the economy.”
He said it was businesses also had to be given time to prepare, with restocking a major issue.
“All the beer we bought had to go into the bin because it is now out of date,” he said.
While most are keen to press ahead as fast as possible Scott Murray, managing director of Cru Holdings which has a number of bars in the Inverness area, said he felt Scotland had been right in adopting a more cautious approach.
“I may be in the minority when I say that I personally want to leave it as long as possible to fully reopen,” he said.
“We have limited outside spaces, so we really are going to need to look to when indoor spaces are allowed to open for us to really consider starting operations again.”
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