We asked several licensees and operators for their thoughts and business projections for the first quarter of 2021 and here’s what Paul Stevenson, owner of Glasgow’s Paesano Pizza had to say…
It’ll come as no surprise to you that I think it’s going to be pretty tough in January and February. The furlough scheme is masking a lot of things – plus people’s money and job worries and their fearfulness of the future are all starting to become very real.
On saying that, because of this second lockdown and people being cooped up again and the promise of a vaccine on the horizon, we could get a wee kickback and a boost in January if we are open of course. But I really don’t see February being anything but bleak for the hospitality industry.
The fact that we have a younger demographic and are reasonably priced means that consumer confidence will hopefully be restored quicker in my businesses compared to more high-end or fine dining businesses that I think will be hit a lot harder.