Re-opening on 26th April 2021 was a relief but quite stressful still with more restrictions on numbers of households, allowed to meet and alcohol sales only being allowed to be consumed outside. Despite some cold, wind, wet and even snowy days through May, our guests were just delighted to be back enjoying a drink or two in the marquee or heated pods.
Once fully open again by the end of May (albeit still with some number restrictions), the summer of 2021 passed in a flash with a very busy and fantastic 5 months of the marquee garden restaurant and full accommodation as most of the UK holidayed at home, we just didn’t stop!
Autumn brought some quieter months allowing us some time off and a lovely half term holiday on the Caledonian Canal with two of our boys and a trip to Glasgow finally to see the eldest son. However, the devastation in the Borders from Storm Arwen was something no one could believe in November, bringing businesses to a standstill again. This was topped with us as a family of 4, all finally contracting the COVID virus so closing the business for our 10 days of isolation. I took it the worst and the boys had no symptoms at all. Several staff then went down with the virus too.
December brought more worries as numbers of COVID cases increased as the new Omicron Variant swept through the country. Yet again, we turned to takeaway, offering our Christmas menu as a takeaway option too which was once more well received.
We choose to close on Christmas Eve for a 12-day break which was just as well as our eldest, not long back from university, then tested positive on Christmas Day, so another spell of isolation. This time it was rather pleasant with plenty good TV, chocolates & alcohol and not feeling ill!
2022 has started very slow for business so we have resumed our takeaway service every weekend. The restaurant side of the business is picking up as customer confidence (or fatigue at the restrictions?) returns. Slowly restrictions on indoor mixing and table service have been lifted in Scotland this month, but the accommodation side is still very quiet. From next week, 1st February, people are being encouraged to return to work so hopefully some of our regular business accommodation bookings will return.
We are yet again planning to put our marquee restaurant back up in late May and we know we will have another busy summer so just trying to charge our batteries right now, do a spot of painting & a few improvements to the inn and preparing ourselves to do it all over again.
Bring it on…
K x
