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Nights out are helping boost local economy in Inverness


By Ian Duncan

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More customers have been returning to bars and pubs. Picture: Callum Mackay.
More customers have been returning to bars and pubs. Picture: Callum Mackay.

Pubs and bars are reporting a growing confidence among customers as people continue to return to Inverness city centre for evenings out.

It is providing a much-needed boost for the night-time economy in the city as businesses work hard to recover from four months of lockdown.

Andy Simpson, manager of the Black Isle Bar on Church Street, said the number of customers through the doors was good for business and there were plenty of people out and about in the city centre now. He said: “Inverness is busy with tourists and locals. There is no shortage of customers at the moment.”

Back serving the pints is Calum MacAllister at Black Isle Bar in Church Street. Picture: Gary Anthony.
Back serving the pints is Calum MacAllister at Black Isle Bar in Church Street. Picture: Gary Anthony.

Mr Simpson said everybody who visited the bar seemed happy to be there and added: “I am seeing the people that are out in bars – they are confident and happy. It is obviously good for us as it means that everybody keeps their jobs.”

With Aberdeen in the throes of a renewed lockdown, with pubs and restaurants closed after an coronavirus outbreak in the Granite City, Inverness pubs and bars have been conscious of being extra vigilant with Covid safety measures.

Bruce MacGregor, who runs MacGregor’s Bar in Academy Street, said things were going well and that customers were keeping to the guidelines.

Ellen Winstanley and Will Hewlett at MacGregor's Bar. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Ellen Winstanley and Will Hewlett at MacGregor's Bar. Picture: Callum Mackay.

He said there was a little “blip” in trade when news of what happened in Aberdeen emerged last week but they were busier than usual again by last weekend.

“People are so glad we are taking this so seriously,” he said.

“We are certainly noticing a lot more visitors and local folk and they seem to be more optimistic.”

Ally Mackay, the manager of Hootenanny in Church Street, said the UK government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme was also getting more people out from Monday to Wednesday.

Ally Mackay at Hootenanny. Picture: Callum Mackay.
Ally Mackay at Hootenanny. Picture: Callum Mackay.

The scheme, being promoted by Inverness Business Improvement District in the city centre, offers diners 50 per cent off food and soft drinks on Mondays to Wednesdays during August, in a bid to help reinvigorate the hospitality industry.

Mr Mackay said: “The weekend didn’t seem to change and the eat out deal seems to be doing very well for people in the town.”


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