Fife coffee shop re-opens with new collection and delivery service

Kirkcaldy High Street’s newest coffee shop Bob & Berts is just one of a number in the town which re-opened its doors today and welcomed customers back in as lockdown restrictions eased further.
Staff are kitted out in PPE as they welcome customers back at Bob & Berts in Kirkcaldy High Street. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.Staff are kitted out in PPE as they welcome customers back at Bob & Berts in Kirkcaldy High Street. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.
Staff are kitted out in PPE as they welcome customers back at Bob & Berts in Kirkcaldy High Street. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.

But it isn’t business as usual at the Northern-Ireland based coffee chain as bosses have had to make a lot of changes to be able to operate safely.

As well as the removal of seating to allow for social distancing, there will be the launch of a new app, a new home delivery service and a separate area for people waiting for takeaway orders.

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Carlos Echanove, Bob & Berts area manager for Scotland, told The Press: “We have reduced the seating inside and we have put in perspex screens in front of the tills. All our staff will be wearing gloves - changing their gloves every time they change their mask and washing their hands afterwards - we are also enforcing them to wash their hands every 15 minutes.

Chef Kieran Hamill and Gary Wood, manager at Bob & Berts in Kirkcaldy, prepare to welcome customers to the coffee shop. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.Chef Kieran Hamill and Gary Wood, manager at Bob & Berts in Kirkcaldy, prepare to welcome customers to the coffee shop. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.
Chef Kieran Hamill and Gary Wood, manager at Bob & Berts in Kirkcaldy, prepare to welcome customers to the coffee shop. Pic: Fife Photo Agency.

“Staff will be wearing masks when they serve food to customers at tables as they will be breaking the one metre distance.”

He continued: “We will be sanitising tables and chairs as soon as customers leave them and we won’t have cutlery lying out anymore, it will be behind the counter and staff will give it to customers. All our surfaces will be sanitised every 15 minutes and the toilets will be checked every half hour instead of every two hours.”

Carlos said they have also introduced a new Bob & Berts app (available from the app store or Google Play) which people can use to order food and collect. People can also use the app to have food and drinks delivered by drivers to their home - for which there is a small charge.

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He explained: “We are now offering collection and delivery so people can use this if they don’t feel safe or comfortable coming into the shop. The people who order for collection through the app will wait outside the store and staff will bring it out to them. People coming in for takeaway will wait in a separate area for their order.”

He said people wanting to sit inside will come in as usual, order at the counter and they will be given a number to put on their table and staff will bring them their food and drinks.

Carlos added: “We want people to feel safe when they come in so we will do whatever we have to do to keep our customers and our staff as safe as possible.”

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

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