We are desperate to give visitors a warm Highland welcome, says Caithness hotel owner
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A Caithness hotelier has said the hospitality industry is desperate to give visitors a warm Highland welcome when lockdown restrictions are eased.
Murray Lamont, owner of Mackays Hotel in Wick, was pleased with the timetable set out by Nicola Sturgeon this week as she spoke of looking ahead to the summer "with well-earned optimism".
Mr Lamont said: “This is the news we have been waiting to hear and we thank the First Minister for listening to us. Hospitality and tourism are the foundation of the northern economy and probably the industry worst affected by Covid."
He was among a number of business operators on the North Coast 500 route who welcomed Ms Sturgeon's announcement on Tuesday.
Measures include the "stay at home" regulations being lifted on April 2 and replaced with guidance to "stay local", with more services including hairdressers and garden centres to open from April 5.
Further easing from April 26 will include all retail premises and tourist accommodation, as well as a limited reopening of the hospitality sector and the lifting of all restrictions on journeys in mainland Scotland.
From that date Ms Sturgeon expects all parts of the country currently in level four to move down to "a modified level three". She also highlighted one-off grants to help businesses reopen.
Mr Lamont said: "The industry understands and respects the need to be responsible and adhere to rules for everybody’s safety and wellbeing. The date given of reducing the mainland from level four to level three is a great start, as is the lifting of travel restrictions.
"We need to know the detail of the modified levels so as we know how exactly hospitality will operate.
“The hospitality industry is desperately eager to demonstrate the warm Highland welcome visitors are used to. We must be able to provide the best the Highlands has to offer in food and drink.
“We can now have a clear plan as we structure the opening of our business. At the moment many wholesalers and suppliers in the supply chain have furloughed their staff and need time to get people back in place."
He added: “The announcement of further help with 100 per cent rates relief for the year with restart grants will help greatly and reduce the risk ahead. People now have the opportunity to book trips around the North Coast 500 with confidence, knowing that attractions can open and hospitality businesses will look after them.”
Tanja Lister, owner of the Kylesku Hotel in Sutherland, said: "We very much welcome the indicative timelines set out by the First Minister. After a bruising year, we’re eagerly awaiting to reopen our doors once more and welcome back our much-missed guests.
“While it has inevitably been, and continues to be, a challenging time, the messages of support and the pent-up demand have carried us through this. The last year has underlined the key role that hospitality and tourism plays as part of our way of life and also wellbeing.
"We will be ready with that famous Highland welcome just as soon as restrictions lift."
Quintin Stevens, owner of the Storehouse in Easter Ross, said: “We’re delighted to be finally getting an indicative date for the reopening of hospitality in the north Highlands which we can all support and start planning towards. We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to the Storehouse and the wider North Coast 500 as soon as it’s safe to travel.”
Tom Campbell, executive chairman of North Coast 500 Ltd, said: "It is really encouraging to see positive steps in the reopening of the hospitality and tourism sectors. There is still caution, but businesses and communities now have the ability to plan for a relaxation in the restrictions.
"While we have consistently said that everyone needs to follow the government guidelines, it can be said now with a more positive approach and belief that the reopening of these local businesses, which are vital to the Highland economy, is in sight.”
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) said it was bitterly disappointed that bars, restaurants and cafés will not be able to serve alcohol indoors when the hospitality industry reopens next month.
Warning that there remain “tough times ahead” for the sector, SLTA managing director Colin Wilkinson said: “This is not the news we were hoping for. Yes, it’s good news for those bars, restaurants and cafés with suitable facilities that will be able to serve people outdoors – in groups of up to six from three households – until 10pm from April 26.
“However, for indoor hospitality, the news is yet another bitter blow and we are surprised that the Scottish Government has chosen not to allow premises to sell alcohol when they reopen next month.
“We of course welcome the news that, from May 17, hospitality venues will be able to open until 10.30pm indoors with alcohol permitted and, for outdoors, until 10pm.
“We welcome these indicative dates for reopening as they provide more clarity for businesses but overall this slight lifting of restrictions doesn’t go far enough and, for the majority, reopening will remain unviable."
He added: “If there is a positive to come out of this announcement it is that we have something to work towards – but that doesn’t change the fact that, for a very high percentage of business, reopening in April will simply be unviable.”
Related stories:
- Hairdressers to reopen in early April as Nicola Sturgeon sets out timetable for further easing of lockdown
- Highland businesses will be 'pleasantly surprised' at lockdown easing measures
