Inverness bar named among Scottish hospitality pandemic champions
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An Inverness venture involving a city centre bar is in the running for an award recognising Scotland’s hospitality heroes of the coronavirus pandemic.
MacGregor's Bar in Academy Street, which which cooperated with local street food pop-ups, has been named as a finalist in the Collaboration Award category of the Catering Scotland (CIS) Excellence Awards.
MacGregor's Bar, run by BBC Travelling Folk presenter and Blazin’ Fiddles member Bruce MacGregor, is among a range of shortlisted organisations which helped feed vulnerable people, put furloughed chefs back to work for charities and collaborated with local community groups.
Other finalists for the Collaboration Award include Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts – an Edinburgh volunteers’ initiative which set out to feed 500 people seven days a week after providing 160,000 free meals – and the Edinburgh School of Food and Wine.
Andrea Nicholas, chairwoman of the awards advisory board, said: "The judges were blown away by the generous and selfless activities undertaken by so many businesses during this challenging period.
"These highlighted the massive community spirit which continues to pervade Scotland during the pandemic."
The awards will be presented at a dinner to be held later this year once pandemic restrictions are eased sufficiently. The event will also feature presentations of the 2021 awards, entries for which are due to open shortly.
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