Coronavirus: Will Smith from Helensburgh's Sugar Boat restaurant slams 'slow' recovery plan

Will Smith, who runs the Sugar Boat in Colquhoun Square, said the Scottish Government's approach was "overly cautious" and said he was "confused as to why Scotland seems insistent on reopening slower than the rest of the nation".

Mr Smith spoke to the Advertiser after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon unveiled details of the Scottish Government's updated framework for the country's emergence out of lockdown.

But apart from the planned reintroduction of a 'tiered' system of restrictions at the end of April, details were spars on when the country's restaurant, cafe and pub owners might be able to reopen their premises to customers.

Some businesses, including the Sugar Boat, have offered takeaway and/or delivery services on a limited basis during part or all of the pandemic, but restaurants across Scotland have been closed to all sit-in customers since December.

READ MORE: How Scotland's 'strategic framework' compares to England's route map out of lockdown

Mr Smith said: “These lockdowns are long and challenging both mentally and financially.

“I need to get my business open again and trading and welcoming people back in. It’s in my nature to offer hospitality and I miss it dearly.

“Whilst the grants and furlough funding that I have been provided from the state are welcome, they are not enough to pay my monthly ongoing costs.

The Sugar Boat in Colquhoun Square

“Safety of both my team and guests of course is the priority, but I find the approach of central government to be overly cautious."

The Sugar Boat was named the best restaurant in Scotland at the AA Hospitality Awards in 2019.

It was also named as one of 27 new Bib Gourmand award recipients in that year's Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland.

READ MORE: Loch Lomond tourism 'set to lose out on £500m' due to pandemic, says industry expert

Mr Smith continued: “These seem to be decisions easily arrived at by people who do not have the responsibility of running a business and paying employees and continue to receive their own full salaries.

“The vaccines are rolling out at great speed and I am confused as to why Scotland seems insistent on reopening slower than the rest of the nation.

“Any local resident would have seen how the town's hospitality industry rose to the challenge of Covid when allowed to trade with track and trace, safe distancing measures, masks from the get-go, temperature checking, signage and so on.

Many of Helensburgh's restaurants have continued to offer takeaway and/or delivery services during the lockdown while premises have remained closed to sit-in customers

“To sum it up I am extremely concerned about the future and wholly frustrated. Roll on the vaccines.”

Meanwhile, Cara Nikolic, who runs three local restaurants – La Barca, Cattle & Creel, and Padrone – with her husband Milan, said the extension of the UK government's furlough scheme was vital to keep hospitality businesses viable.

The scheme is currently due to expire at the end of April.

READ MORE: Plans for new Helensburgh seafront restaurant approved by council officials

Mrs Nikolic said: “I understand we will initially move to Level 3 which, under the old system, meant licensed premises shutting at 6pm and not serving alcohol.

“We have over 40 staff on furlough or flexi-furlough at the moment and the restrictions mean there simply won’t be enough opening hours for everyone to earn a living.

"So it’s vital that, as is speculated, we see an extension of the furlough while trade is restricted.

“We are extremely grateful to all the customers who have supported us and helped us keep going this winter.

Milan and Cara Nikolic

“I’m sure there will be a lot of ‘staycationers’ this summer as people’s confidence grows to get out and about again.

“We’ve come this far; we just need to get through the tiers and then we’ll see the bounce back we’ve all been waiting for.”

Vivien Dance, the chief executive of the Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce, said: “Tourism and hospitality are a major industry for our nation which interconnects with many other types of businesses and the lack of visitors and customers over many months has rippled through to a wide range of traders, particularly the smaller independent ones.

READ MORE: The key points from this week's coronavirus lockdown exit plan for Scotland

“There is no doubt that we face a major uphill struggle to rebuild our local economy when we finally unlock, the problem is easy to identify, the solution does not come so easily.”

Ms Sturgeon said on Tuesday: “I know how hard current restrictions are after 11 long months of this pandemic, however they are working and we can now see our way out of them.

“We are in a far better position now than at the start of January, and these measures are initial steps on a slow, but hopefully steady, route back to much greater normality.

Restaurants, pubs and cafes in Scotland don't yet have a firm date for when they might be able to reopen to sit-in customers

“Our intent remains to suppress the virus to the lowest possible level and keep it there, while we strive to return to a more normal life for as many people as possible.

“At the moment, and for a bit longer, we need to rely very heavily on restrictions to suppress the virus. This is essential when the virus is so transmissible, and when case numbers are still quite high.

“The strategic framework is deliberately cautious at this stage but in the coming weeks, if the data allows and positive trends continue, we will seek to accelerate the easing of restrictions.”

READ MORE: Catch up with all the latest news headlines from across Helensburgh and Lomond here