Stirling businesses welcomed this week’s lifting of coronavirus restrictions, with some hoping that trade will be buoyed by good summer weather and the staycation market.
Non-essential shops opened their doors on Monday along with gyms, outdoor pubs and restaurants after the four-month lockdown imposed on Boxing Day.
They also emphasised the importance of public confidence in coronavirus safety measures in bringing people back into Stirling city centre.
Some reported a steady stream of customers on Monday, out to take advantage of the easing of restrictions down to tier three.
Co-owner of the Kilted Kangaroo pub in Upper Craigs, Andrew Mitchell, said: “Today has been a cold Monday, but we’ve been fully booked up. There were a few no shows with the weather, but that’s to be expected.
“It’s certainly been better than being closed. It has been a tough 14 months for us. We need to get a decent break.”
Top of the Town restaurant owner Hermann Aschaber of Hermann’s, in Broad Street, said: “The good thing is we are open and we have a few tables booked for today.
“Monday generally isn’t a busy day so things can always pick up as the week goes on.
“However, these are still very worrying times.
“Let’s hope it is a good summer because it’s Scotland, and drinking outdoors in the rain won’t be that popular.
“But it’s also about confidence – getting people to have the confidence to go back out again.”
Manager of Tinkerbells Emporium in Friars Street, Lisa Davidson, pointed to the importance of this summer’s staycation market.
She said: “Today has been absolutely amazing. We have two families in at a time. It’s really good to be back.
“I have been lucky to have a good website where I have been able to keep in touch with the friends of the shop over the last four months.
“And I feel positive that while there will be no international travel this summer, leaving a gap in Stirling footfall, the staycation market will make up for that.”
Manager at the King Robert Hotel in Bannockburn, Tricia Thomson, also pinned her hopes on business generated by the staycation market.
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She added: “I really don’t see international travel picking up at all. A lot of our guests are from France and Spain – and I don’t think we are going to see them this year.
“We also do group lunches for people coming to Stirling for the day. There’s a big market for us there with Chinese customers, but I really cannot see that coming back this year.
“Hopefully that is the last lockdown. If there was another one I think the viability of the hotel would be in question, despite the business we’ve been getting in recent months by helping Stirling Council out with the homeless situation.
“Furlough and grants don’t cover what you have lost in business and there are still outgoings like mortgages.”
Individual classes started back at Stirling gym Heat Fitness in Springkerse, but its core business of group training will not return until May
17.
Juliette Cassidy of Heat Fitness said: “We have no idea what the future holds and we are just thankful for the council grants, which were fantastic and for our clients who followed us online and outdoors.
“Our current business will never revert back to what it was before, but that’s fine, we will do a bit of everything and not be scared to explore new options. As a business owner, you feel vulnerable at times like this, and mentally it can be hard, but we are optimistic for the future.”
Dunblane beauty therapist Rosemary McPherson of the Neroli Beauty Salon in the town’s Duckburn Industrial Estate, was delighted with the easing of restrictions.
Rosemary said this week: “Myself and my staff are over the moon to get back to work.
“Our job involves being with people all day, and I know my staff have found this last lockdown much harder to get through.
“We are loving welcoming everyone back and doing what we do best.”
