Discounts on offer at Inverness diners
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WHEN Lorraine and Richard Comfort (pictured) reopened the much-loved Castle Restaurant last September, ravenous locals rushed back to savour delights like succulent steak pie and crinkle cut chips.
Few could have envisaged, just six months later, a global pandemic would force closure all over again.
The Castle Street outlet’s future was cast in doubt in 2015 when long-time owner Brian Lipton retired. His grandmother Patricia Boni and uncle Joe had founded it in 1959.
The Comforts – who also run Church Street’s Comfort Foods – shut on March 21, reopening on July 15 with strict Covid-19 safety measures in place.
“The main challenge was to get customers feeling safe to sit-in,” Mrs Comfort said. “Many were initially unaware that they could sit in as well as take away but we spread the word through Inverness BID and Facebook.
“The Eat Out to Help Out scheme was definitely beneficial as it drew in more people between Mondays and Wednesdays. A Tuesday almost became as busy as a Saturday, constant from midday to 8pm.
“It helped to entice people out again. Once the customers realised it was safe, they began to feel more relaxed.”
Quieter since the scheme ended, a September discount now offers a free main meal up to the value of £10 per table for orders of two two-course meals.
“Going into winter, we will put on more offers,” Mrs Comfort added.
