Getting Inverness Back to Business: New chef steps up to the plate
AN Inverness restaurant was gearing up for reopening last night for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased.
The Fig & Thistle, in Stephen’s Brae, had remained closed throughout and staff were this week making sure all safety measures were in place before welcoming customers back yesterday (Thursday, July 23).
Karen Smith, who runs the business with her partner Steven Dewart, said there had been a last-minute hitch when their second chef, Steven’s brother Chris, broke his leg last week.
She said they had managed to find a replacement and added: “We were quite lucky that we knew a few people who were looking for work.”
The business has been running for five years and the couple were looking forward to reopening.
Miss Smith said she was feeling optimistic, because they had been taking daily phone calls and bookings in advance of reopening.
She added: “I am feeling quite confident. We are going to test it, keep to our regular hours and see what it’s like. At this time of year we would normally be at full capacity but we will just have to wait and see.”
The restaurant normally seats 40 diners but, allowing for social distancing, they will be operating reduced seating, bringing that number down to 22. Other measures include: hand sanitisers, social distancing signs, PPE, new cleaning regimes and outside seating.
