A Borgue hotelier has paid tribute to loyal locals for keeping his business afloat during lockdown.
Martin Thomson was finding trading tough even before Covid restrictions were tightened.
The Borgue Hotel had been limited to takeaway sales of food and booze from the bar since Boxing Day.
Now all alcohol sales are banned – and customers can’t enter the premises to collect meal orders.
Stricter measures have hit hard – but loyal locals give Martin hope he can ride out the storm.
“We can’t thank the community enough for what they are doing for us,” he told the News. “We have lots of regulars and we love the village. Lots of people are isolated and struggling and they need us. If we shut it would mean there was no outlet here for the community.”
The Covid clampdown meant Martin and wife Michelle – who does the cooking – had to change procedures.
He said: “Before Saturday people were coming round the back to collect their food and drinks to takeaway.
“Now people have to pull up and wait to collect their food at the front door when it’s ready.
“We are completely closed for what we normally do and there’s no trade indoors. We can’t afford to do anything else like putting a hatch in.
“Thank goodness we still have our regulars coming down once a week to get their takeaways.”
Top priority for Martin and Michelle is financial survival in the hope of a full season ahead.
“If we can’t open by Easter it’s going to be difficult for us.
“All we can do is take one day at a time.”
