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Donegal restaurant embraces change
30.07.20
DONEGAL restaurants
were among the businesses worst hit by the COVID-19
outbreak, with most having to cease trading entirely
for months, placing a huge strain on what is one of
the county’s most vital sectors.
In line with the phase 3 of the government reopening
roadmap, many businesses have now reopened their
doors and while there remains major challenges
ahead, Donegal’s hospitality sector is adapting and
pivoting with the help of technology and innovation. |
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The Lemon Tree Restaurant introduced
outdoor dining and replaced the need for handheld
menus with an innovative new ordering system which
allows customers to access menus via a QR code from
the table. |
Christopher Molloy,
co-owner and chef of the Lemon Tree Restaurant in
Letterkenny, noted that although the return to
business is very challenging, it presents an
opportunity to reinvent and embrace change.
“There is no question the past few months have been
difficult but we are embracing it. The closure
period offered us some time to take stock and
rethink our operations. We decided to introduce a
range of new services including a new click &
collect service on our website, a new on-street
street food style hatch and outdoor dining. We also
replaced the need for handheld menus with an
innovative new ordering system which allows
customers to access menus via a QR code from the
table, minimizing contact. The demand for our
outdoor dining tables has been tremendous and being
able to enjoy a meal outside in the open air has
become a really attractive option for customers. We
have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback we
have about these new services and we are seeing lots
of new faces, which is very encouraging. With the
rise of staycations and the huge support from local
customers, we are in for a busy season which is
great to see.”
Christopher also acknowledged that the range of
government supports available has made reopening
possible. “The Donegal County Council Restart Grant
Scheme enabled us to hit the ground running with new
equipment and supplies, providing a much needed cash
flow injection within a short space of time."
Garry Martin, Director of Economic Development with
Donegal County Council and a member of the
Destination Tourism Taskforce in Donegal, believes
that “while businesses in hospitality and tourism
have faced huge challenges this year, many have
looked to innovative and creative solutions to allow
them to continue to trade and to offer something
unique to their customers and this resilience is
without doubt a mark of the calibre of the
businesses that we have here in Donegal." |
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