A host of businesses across the hospitality sector have been helped by an interiors firm to welcome back customers.
The team at Ghyll House Upholstery, based at Mealsgate, has been working with cafes, bars, caravan parks and hotels to ensure venues were ready to welcome back the public from today, as businesses reopen for indoor service and overnight stays under the next milestone of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.
It has worked with The Wild Strawberry in Keswick, Mayport’s Harbour Side Caravan Park,t he Embleton Spa Hotel, near Cockermouth; the Glen Rothay Hotel at Rydal, near Ambleside; the clubhouse at Cockermouth Golf Club; and Grasslot Welfare Sports and Social Club in Maryport.
Joe McAlpine, general manager of Ghyll House Upholstery, said: “We’ve been working non-stop for clients on refurbishment projects to ensure they were ready to welcome back customers in time for the easing of restrictions.
“Many business owners in the hospitality sector have taken the opportunity during lockdown to update the interior of their venues, and it’s great that we’ve been able to help them through our specialist upholstery services.
“We work closely with clients to ensure they get exactly what they need, from matching fabrics to existing items of furniture, to creating curtains and blinds.”
At The Wild Strawberry cafe in Keswick, the team upholstered banquette seating for a large alcove, as part of a major refurbishment project.
The venue in Main Street will reopen on Tuesday, May 25, with its sister cafe in Grasmere, Emma’s Dell, reopening today.
Formerly a crêperie, The Wild Strawberry will relaunch as a cafe and patisserie, with a cake counter and afternoon teas as well as a lunch menu.
Owner Emma Bray said: “We felt the time was right for a change and we were delighted when Paula Murchison, who was previously head pastry chef at the Sharrow Bay Hotel at Ullswater, joined the team.
“The cafe has been completely refurbished and we’re delighted with the result.”
From today, the rules in England change to allow pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality businesses to open indoor areas.
Customers will be required to order, eat and drink while seated with table service, although there will be no curfew or ‘substantial meal’ restrictions which had been imposed prior to the latest lockdown.
Customers are now also able to meet in groups of up to 30 in outdoor areas such as beer gardens, which have been open since April 12 with rule of six curbs in place.
Groups of up to six people or two households can meet indoors.
People are also able to stay in hotels and visit cinemas, concert halls and other leisure venues.
