Your lockdown one year on: Falkirk cafe owner's business turned inside out

Tomorrow marks one year since the country shut down, with plans in place for a minute’s silence as part of a national day of reflection at noon.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Pots, in the town’s Cow Wynd, was known as much for the warmth of its welcome as the quality of its beverages and meals.

Throughout the past 12 months, however, owner Nicky Don felt she had no choice but to instead focus on providing a takeaway service as restrictions meant its doors had to remain closed.

Last May, Ms Don launched a home delivery service for the vulnerable and handed out more than 100 meals to those in need.

https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/business/steven-offers-his-airth-luxury-hotel-nhs-staff-and-patients-2516552

https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/business/top-cop-says-you-must-stay-shut-falkirk-pubs-and-other-venues-2504531

https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/people/checkout-staff-falkirk-morrisons-work-behind-perspex-screens-bid-combat-coronavirus-2505569

As she prepares to reopen the shop in line with Scottish Government guidelines on April 26, the businesswoman’s outlook hasn't changed.

She said: “It’s been difficult.

“I was closed in the first lockdown but then I was going in and making food for free for anybody who needed it to keep myself busy.

“It’s different because your numbers are restricted. I do a lot of takeaway and I’ll do more takeaway because people weren’t comfortable coming in to sit down.

“I’ve had people enquiring about the takeaway food. One gentleman started getting hot meals. He then took them away cold and heated them up for dinner through the week so I’m going to push that a bit.

“I did a lot of afternoon teas the last time and, again, the weather’s getting better so people who still aren’t wanting to come in can order those.

“I don’t have a lot of space so I can understand why people are a bit wary. We’re going to push that as well.

“I’ve just been planning for getting open again and redoing menus. I have so many regulars – daily and weekly regulars – and I have quite a close relationship with loads of them.

“I’ve been in trying to do a bit of decorating and freshening up. I needed new tabletops and chairs – a lot of nick-nacks that I needed but previously didn’t have the time to do.

“We’ll do anything we can to keep going.”

Thank you for reading this article on our free-to-read website. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

Please consider purchasing a subscription to our print newspaper to help fund our trusted, fact-checked journalism.

https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/nord/dm/FKH/V