The head of a prestigious Perthshire hotel said he saw around 50 customer cancellations in the space of an hour and a half in the wake of Wednesday’s COVID announcement.
Stephen Leckie, the chief executive of Crieff Hydro Hotel, also revealed that the business is set to lose hundreds of thousands of pounds due to cancellations and a loss of income.
The full effects of these new restrictions will be sorely felt by the hospitality industry throughout Perth and Kinross today (October 9).
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On Wednesday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon imposed what she called “tough” but “important” rules as COVID cases continue to rise.
All hospitality bars, pubs and restaurants in the region will close indoor premises at 6pm every day for 16 days and can only serve food and non-alcoholic drinks.
No alcohol will be served indoors at any hospitality outlet until October 25.
Serving alcohol will only be allowed at outdoor premises, such as beer gardens, until 10pm.
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And despite hotel facilities being allowed to stay open beyond the 6pm mark, Mr Leckie labelled the new rules a “disaster” and believes it will have severe consequences across the region.
“We are not in the five regions with stricter restrictions but they have blanketed everyone with the same rules,” he said.
“People had got their staff and supply chains all set up. It is a disaster.
“We had 50 cancellations in an hour and a half period yesterday (Wednesday).
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“The rules are going to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds in cancellations and a loss of income.
“Look at the money every pub, bar and restaurant in the hospitality industry has spent on buying PPE and to introduce protective COVID measures.
“After all that it is hard to believe that the public are contracting it in the pubs.
“The real test will be in two weeks - what happens then if they can’t reopen?
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“We [Crieff Hydro] have not had one single case.
“So what damage is there in having a glass of wine at lunch while staying?
“But customers are cancelling due to worries about travelling for their holidays.
“People have been told that they can go on holiday and can travel but you can’t have a drink or go out to eat.
“We are very lucky because we are in a position where we can stay open and are sorry to those that cannot.”
