A popular Edinburgh pub in Leith has reopened for delivery services - dropping off their well-known burgers around the capital.
But Lioness of Leith owner Ben Abbott has spoken of the realities of reopening in a market "that has been developing rapidly while we were closed."
The Leith pub - which Ben runs with business partner Danny Zyw - has opened its 'Burger Mama' delivery service via Deliveroo after owner Ben decided to "diversify our reach to cover future possibilities."
Lioness of Leith ceased deliveries last summer after Ben's son became unwell however, as his health improved, Ben has been able to "look over the parapet and decide action is inescapable, both now and longer term."
He told Edinburgh Live : "Restaurants can't afford to sit still, hibernate, and wait for the relaxing of restrictions allowing for bums on seats, in order to kick start their business.
"Many takeaway operations have been running at full tilt for much of the lockdown -their businesses didn’t have to adapt and their customer base actually grew.
"As a sit in eatery, if there’s a way you can reach your customers - you’ve got to attempt it - even if you’re doing it late."
He explained: "We don’t know the future shape of hospitality trading, many businesses relied upon 90% capacity to make a living.
"Will be ever be cramming into bench seating and sharing tables again?
"We certainly hope so, but I felt we had to diversify our reach to cover future possibilities."
It is far too easy to ask restaurant owners why they haven't simply just changed to a delivery option immediately - but Ben explains that there are very real cost issues involved when pivoting to takeaway: "The ‘eat out’ market has evolved into a ‘delivery’ market and companies like Deliveroo and Just Eat have been thrust into positions of vast power.
"The reason why a high number of quality real food restaurants struggle with, and delay, the switch to delivering through the the mainstream apps is the eye-watering commission they demand."
"We have a real passion to deliver a truly gourmet burger - every element of it. So being entirely shut and having no output or customers during lockdown was painful!
"it can make profit extremely hard to achieve. On balance we decided it’s currently a necessary ‘evil’ in many respects though."
Restaurants in Scotland are currently closed in accordance with national lockdown rules and are only allowed to operate takeaway services.
You can order Burger Mama from Lioness of Leith via Deliveroo - follow them on Instagram here.
