An Aberdeen hotel has unveiled new plans for outdoor dining in the hope the Scottish Government will soon announce a date for the reopening of open-air spaces.
The Chester Hotel is keen to begin serving food and drink in a 20-metre open-sided marquee and transparent igloos as soon as Nicola Sturgeon allows outdoor premises to do so.
The marquee will have a transparent roof and will be erected over the car park area, if planning permission is approved.
It will complement the hotel’s existing outdoor seating area and, alongside the canopied patio, it will seat around 100 guests for an alfresco dining experience.
The business has stressed that appropriate social distancing measures will be in place.
Graham Wood, owner of the Queen’s Road hotel, said: “It is important for us that, as well as keeping our staff and customers safe, we provide everyone with The Chester experience.
“After such a long period of lockdown, where treats and socialising have been in short supply, we think people will want to enjoy a little normality and be able to go somewhere of their choice.”
The team have been working throughout lockdown to deep clean the hotel and they have also augmented the planting at the front of the hotel with hurricane lamps and open fire effect patio heaters.
In addition to the marquee, there will be two Eden Project style igloos which will give a 360 degree view at the front of the hotel.
Customers will be able to pre-book the domes for groups of up to eight.
Mr Wood added: “Although we have a large area of our outdoor seating area already under canopies, the addition of this 20 metre marquee will give us one of Aberdeen city’s largest outdoor spaces.
“We’ll be serving a comprehensive selection from our full bar food menu and everything from our drinks’ menu.”
The hotel has purchased an electrostatic fogging machine to sanitise all areas, will provide hand sanitising units and introduce a one-way system for guests and all staff.
When the premises open, all tables will have to be booked online and customers will only be allowed to dine if they have a reservation.
Two hours slots will be available and menus can be downloaded online with guests ordering directly from the menu and paying through an app, as the hotel will only be accepting card payments.
Stephen Gow, general manager said: “We are having to look at how we serve food and drinks in a way that keeps everyone involved safe, but which doesn’t depersonalise the interaction to the point where it’s uncomfortable.
“The team is keen to get back to doing what we all love to do.”
More information about The Chester Hotel can be found at www.chester-hotel.com.
