The Sorn Inn is ready to offer beer garden services as soon as the government allows, the owner has said.

Craig Grant, chef and proprietor of the Sorn Inn, revealed that his business, like many others, has had to adapt drastically to lockdown measures.

They have lost a huge number of bookings as a result of the ongoing lockdown situation and have switched to a takeaway service in order to keep the money coming in.

As part of phase two of the easing of lockdown measures announced by the First Minister two weeks ago, pubs and restaurants will be allowed to open outdoor areas for customers. The Sorn Inn is keen to take advantage of this as soon as it is allowed, the best case scenario, being by Friday, June 19 if the infection rate continues to decline.

Craig said: “Hopefully in three weeks time we’ll have a nice beer garden atmosphere going on. We’re planning on using the car park as an extended beer garden so hopefully it will work. A lot of people will get out of the house for some draught beer, just as long as the weather stays good. Nobody wants to sit in a car pack when it’s chucking it down with rain.”

Although they’ve managed to tide themselves over thanks to regular customers who turned out for the takeaway offerings, Craig said that his business, like many others, has found it tough.

“It’s been difficult. We’ve lost 84 rooms. This is our peak season, the time when we make money to see us through the winter. Its been really tough to take. I’ve had to let three members of staff go because furlough payments didn’t arrive soon enough.

“Regrettably I’ve had to strip it back to bare bones, there’s just the three of us working now.”

He is hopeful that post-lockdown, people will choose to stay in Scotland to holiday, with tourists making up a large part of his clientele in rural Sorn.

Craig added: “We’re just waiting for the green light and as soon as we can get going we will. I hope a lot of people stay home and take their holidays in Scotland and spend more weekend breaks in Scotland. We’re quite isolated here in Sorn, there’s not much in the way of public transport either, all staff drive in.

“We’re so reliant on tourism, particularly weddings and game shooters. Hopefully all this is over in time for the game season in late summer/autumn, otherwise we’ve lost that as well.”

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