With new restrictions in place on bars, restaurants and hotels, many have been finding innovative ways to bring in revenue and stay in touch with customers…
Faced with a ban in place for the next two weeks on serving alcohol inside, along with a 6pm curfew on indoor premises, hospitality businesses have been taking to social media to unveil their creative responses.
Some – outside the central belt where licensed premises have been forced to close completely apart from takeaways – have transformed their gardens and outdoor areas into covered but open spaces where customers can enjoy alcohol until 10pm.
Others have announced pop-up offerings, cocktail delivery services and more.
Here we round up some of the innovative solutions on offer..
Pop-up outdoor dining and BYOB (Bring Your Own Blanket)
In Inverness, the Kingsmills Hotel has completely transformed its gardens into an impressive heated dining area which is open from noon to 10pm daily.
The pop-up bar and restaurant offers everything from the hotel’s a la carte menu to afternoon tea, and, there’s even an outdoor wine and prosecco bar.
While the area is currently only open to residents, the hotel is working hard to be able to open it to non-residents, too.
Guests are also encouraged to BYOB – bring your own blanket – to stay as warm as possible.
In Aberdeen, The Chester Hotel has also launched a similar bring your own blanket campaign to get more people out dining al fresco.
The hotel is now closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for all food and drink, however, during the rest of the week, the indoor bars are open for food and non-alcoholic drinks from noon to 6pm, and the outdoor dining marquee is open from noon to 10pm.
You’ll find all the beer gardens and al fresco restaurants open in the north and north-east on the article below…
New pop-ups
Taking further steps to adapt their remaining venues, the team has reintroduced its home delivery service and has also converted the outdoor facilities at its Prime restaurant into a pub.
Dubbed “The Angel Has Fallen” in reference to their Angel’s Share whisky and gin bar that sits above the steak and seafood restaurant, bosses have purchased heaters to make it a more encouraging place to visit.
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 6-10pm and from 2pm on Saturdays, the al fresco setting will offer up the chance for customers to enjoy a range of beers, spirits, wines and cocktails, as well as snack boards.
The return of cocktail delivery
With many bars and late night venues even outside of the central belt being forced to close due to it not being viable to open without the ability to serve alcohol, various establishments have reintroduced their ‘at home’ cocktail services for customers.
Adrian Gomes, owner of Aberdeen speakeasy The Tippling House, took the decision to offer take out, home delivery and gourmet snacks for customers to enjoy throughout their restricted opening times. Usually the city’s go-to late night bar, the team have launched these new services to continue to operate in a refreshed way.
Other Aberdeen cocktail bars including Orchid and Dusk have also relaunched their delivery services, too, and restaurants including 210 Bistro in the city centre are offering takeaway cocktails to go along with their takeaway food offering.
Free tea and coffee
Aberdeen Irish pub Malones has offered free tea and coffee and free Wi-Fi to visitors as a way of reducing social isolation now that people may be less inclined to meet up with friends in a bar.
The team posted a statement on Facebook which read: “Right, here’s the craic… we have a few friends that live alone and use the pub to get out of the house so in order for them to continue to do so we are going to stay open for the next 16 days and offer free tea/coffee (no other purchase necessary) and free Wi-Fi.
“So if you want to get out of the house and grab a cuppa at no expense pop along. Even take your laptop and let work pay you to be in the pub. Just please book your table online as normal. Current restrictions apply inside so we will not be serving alcohol inside and inside will close at 6pm each day.
“If you want a pint.. outside will operate as normal until 10pm everyday serving alcohol (pints etc. plus some new hot drinks like mulled cider), hot food and hot drinks. It’s October in Aberdeen so dress for the Alps. Outside is open until 10pm everyday.”