Ghost Customers Are Killing Us Off

Struggling restaurants have been hit again – with hundreds of no-show bookings days after restrictions were eased.

- Stephen Stewart

Industry leaders warned customers may now be forced to pay a deposit for a table.

From last Wednesday, restaurants, pubs and cafes in Scotland were able to serve customers indoors for the first time in almost four months.

But businesses have been left frustrated with customers failing to keep bookings.

Paul Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said no-shows were “a real problem” and could force owners to shed more jobs.

He added that social distancing had resulted in many businesses operating at less than 50 per cent capacity and said charging deposits could be introduced to combat the no-show issue.

The warning came as the Scottish Government revealed there had been no coronavirus deaths for the second day in a row. Hospital deaths from the virus remain at 2491 but there had been an increase of 21 cases from Friday.

Waterson, who owns Stirling’s Golden Lion Hotel, said: “It’s soul-destroying for people to take bookings and then be hit with no-shows.

“Charging deposits is a solution but that poses questions about how much to charge.