Kirkcaldy bars open for business with outdoor seating

As of Monday, a number of establishments in Kirkcaldy and beyond proudly threw open their doors to the public after months of closure.

With new rules came new challenges, for both staff and customers alike, but everyone took it in their stride, with plenty of loyal regulars returning to support local businesses.

On Monday the Cafe Continental was among those to open its outdoor seating area, and manager Aine Kelly said it had been a successful day.

“It went really really well. It was very odd for the staff just because they’ve been off for so long and they got back into the swing of things.

“It was definitely a training and learning day.

“The guests were wonderful. It was really nice just to see people. The weather stayed fine. We’re ready for rain, and we have some gazebos.

From the outside looking in everything looked normnal and fine, but behind the scenes we were all making sure we were sanitising enough or having face visors down.

“There are now a lot of technical issues where your brain has to engage a lot more.”

But Aine said that the customers adapted fairly easily to the new changes.

“We didn’t overcrowd, so everyone was pretty much fine – one in, one out at the toilets, and queueing where needed.

“No one minded. They were given hand sanitation, the table was theirs, once menus were used they got sanitised, and we had sachets for salt, pepper, and ketchup so they weren’t reused.

“As one customer said; ‘this is just normal, we have to queue to get into the supermarket’, so people are well in the cycle of it.

“Once we re-open inside that will be a lot easier in some aspects as we’ll all be used to social distancing and we’ll all be ready.

“I think the social side of anything, even if it’s just getting out for coffee, is important. We had two guests with a dog and just the experience of coming out, sitting down, and engaging with other people rather than walking in the park but being afraid to talk to people.

“It was really nice to see people smiling and laughing.”

The Cafe Continental is currently open between midday and 10pm.

Meanwhile, the Weavers Bar and Lounge on Katherine Street launched its new beergarden on Tuesday.

Manager Paul Simpson said: “There were a few regulars in when we opened the doors.

“The staff have all sat an online course, and we have a risk assessment for outdoor and indoors, with social distancing and table service, and we prefer contactless payment.

“The feedback’s absolutely superb. People are telling us they’ve been really looking forward to getting a pint.

“One of our first customers in is someone who stays on his own. He told us that as much as he’s enjoying a pint, it’s great just to get a bit of conversation after being restricted in the house.

“We’ll be opening inside on July 15 with social distancing and automated hand sanitisers at the door. Outdoors it’s been going well, so we’re positive about opening indoors as well.”

The Weavers is open 2pm-9pm weekdays and weekdays 12pm-9pm.

Also open is Society on Charlotte Street, the Cupcake Coffee Box on the High Street.

Meanwhile the Dean Park Hotel has opened a brand new terrace with outdoor eating dining and drinking.

Colin Smart, who owns the hotel, along with his wife Margaret, said the new Kensington Terrace was just one of a number of changes made recently.

“We’re opening up on Thursday for outside eating, and inside on July 15.

“It’s a whole new terrace that we’ve been working on. We’ll have a bbq area with a pizza oven. We’re really looking forward to that.

“We’ll be offering meals, a new menu, a new chef who was quarter finalist in Masterchef, and obviously drinks as well.”

The Dean Park’s new Terrace will be open from 12-6pm.