Fife food and drink businesses call for more clarity over lockdown roadmap

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed Scotland’s roadmap out of lockdown on Tuesday, with April 26 given as the possible date that restaurants, pubs and non-essential retail might open.

Will Docker, owner of Balgove Larder and chairman of Food from Fife, which represents food and drink businesses from around the Kingdom, said the hospitality industry “must have a clear plan”.

He added: “We are so grateful to our loyal local customers here at Balgove Larder, but we are also desperate to operate in a safe and secure manner and can’t understand why we aren’t able to do so based on current reducing Covid case levels.

"Our team are eager to return from furlough and we dearly want to expand our takeaway offering to enable them to do so. However, we are left without clear explanations for how outdoor and indoor hospitality will look this spring let alone this summer. Businesses need further concise guidance from both the Scottish Government and local councils. We cannot even begin to plan our return to trade based on interpretations from today’s muddled announcement."

Restaurants in north east Fife also showed some concern over the plans, noting that they rely on tourism.

Amy and Jack Elles, co-owners of The Harbour Café, Elie, said: "In line with English restaurants, we are hoping to re-open our bookings from March 15, for the end of April, although we will have to see what the coming weeks bring.

"Elie is a holiday destination and opening the cafe during Tier 3 and 4 restrictions was simply not viable for us. With our seafood shack right on the beach, we really need travel restrictions for Edinburgh and Glasgow residents to have been lifted before we are able to re-open and welcome visitors. The Harbour Café at Home boxes have been a lifeline and we will continue to offer these indefinitely as the foodscape has really changed in the past year."

Ruth Robinson, from the Dory Bistro & Gallery, said re-opening with curfews and no alcohol sales would be challenging.

She added: “There was a distinct lack of guidance on travel. Many businesses in Fife rely on the trade from tourism and second-home owners. We need some clarity on when travel bans will be relaxed and when incoming tourism can re-start.

“Restaurants operate on booking systems. To be able to take bookings, we need more guidance as early as possible on what rules will apply when we re-open seated dining. Otherwise, it is very difficult to take bookings and this is counter-productive to a healthy re-opening."

Craig Millar @ 16 West End, in St Monans, said he would not be re-opening until alcohol sales are allowed.

Helen Mckenzie-Smith at Lindores Abbey Distillery said she “welcomed” the Scottish Government’s cautious approach, adding: “It’s going to be a trying time for the business not being able to open for at least eight weeks, and even then it looks as if we won’t be able to serve alcohol, so we may well decide to delay until further restrictions are eased. After all, not many people want to visit a distillery without having a dram.”