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4. Pause for thought at the beginning of July 2020 – the move from lock down to open up

The 2nd July 2020, was the final and 104th day of the Oak Tree Inn businesses being closed down due to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

 

On 3rd July 2020 the first of the businesses began to open up again, with the Balmaha Village Shop opening but with social distancing restrictions, the St Mocha coffee shop in Balmaha and the Station Coffee Shop in Aberfoyle both opening for take-away service only.

 

In the video interviews below, various members of the Fraser family and other key support individuals during this pandemic, share their thoughts on the past 100 or so days and also their thoughts and hopes for the future as the businesses gradually reopen.

 

 

Sandy Fraser

 

Here Sandy shares his thoughts on being at the water-shed between being closed for so long and re-opening:

 

  • Looks back on the “surreal time” of over 14 weeks being closed.

  • Reflects on business decisions made.

  • Working every day, long days for over 100 days (having only part of one day off).

  • Look for positives out of the negatives.

  • Decisions impacting on the staff.

  • Government announcements.

  • Looking forward to reopening.

Lucy Fraser

 

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Kristina Fraser

 

 

Patrick Afchain

Stuart and David Fraser

 

The week beginning 22nd June, the Frasers decided to completely strip out the main commercial kitchen. Stuart and David Fraser explain what they are doing and the challenge now that certain aspects of hospitality sector can open earlier than originally stated by the Government:

  • Felt that given there was no announcement that they could open in the near future, so decided to rip out the kitchen, replace the flooring and reorganise all equipment layouts.

  • “Allows us to get back to a blank canvas and start again and lay out the kitchen to suit us and the business. That’s one of the biggest benefits of this”

  • However after they started, the Government announced (on 24th June – see section 3.c) that they could open up from this coming Friday (3rd July) and this video diary is shot on the Tuesday – a lot to do in 3 days.

  • Work round the clock to get the kitchen open again.

  • “We will manage it as we always seem to do”

  • Issue also is that there is so many other things happening (eg HR) that it is “difficult to get a straight run at it”

  • There are also issues with getting supplies and materials given the current situation.

  • Should result in a kitchen which is far more efficient with more modern equipment

 

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