Keeping the faith in Elgin high street as Scribbles commissions unique montage
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RESTAURANT owner Faith Houlding is always one to look on the positive side, even in the absolute gloomiest of Covid-19 times, and that is why she commissioned a unique feature as her business tries to trade its way out of the pandemic.
Faith, who owns Scribbles on Elgin's high street, commissioned artist Alan Dawson to produce a montage of architectural features from the town.
"I love all the old photos of the high street in Elgin. People can be really quick to run down Elgin but all the independent shops we have need to be celebrated, especially as a lot of people have really invested in their buildings," she said.
Faith was aware of a mural done by Alan Dawson, who is originally from Elgin but now based in Aberdour, for the Moray scanner appeal a number of years ago.
At the start of lockdown she contacted him and commissioned a special print of Elgin high street and its features.
The finished version was presented to Faith on Friday and will take pride of place in the entrance to the restaurant, which has been open for takeaway food only during lockdown.
Now, with restrictions being relaxed, Faith will be opening up for sit-down customers on July 15, having put a number of coronavirus safety measures in place. The relaxing of the social distancing rule to one metre for restaurants and other indoor facilities will make it easier for Faith's business to operate.
She has been working with a core team of four staff during lockdown, with another 25 staff on furlough.
"We have been in our own littler bubble but when we open we will be ready to hit the ground running," she added.
As well as screens around the serving areas and floor markings, Faith will operate a booking system, track and trace records and manage the time people spend in the restaurant.
Faith admitted the lockdown period had been hard at times, particularly with the livelihoods of so many staff her responsibility.
"The build up to lockdown was crushing. We didn't know about people's jobs and I felt the pressure of being solely responsible for people's incomes and livelihoods. Up until the furlough scheme came in, that was the hardest part."
However, she said her entire team, including furloughed workers, had pulled together to support each other.
Faith accessed a grant through Moray Council and has also taken out a bounceback loan to help her expand her kitchen, to diversify the menu. She will also be getting in new furniture which will make it easier to sit customers back-to-back.
After initially reopening on July 15 for a period, she will have to shut down for a week to implement the refurbishment which she hopes will set her restaurant up for a post-coronavirus recovery.
And at the heart of that recovery, she hopes, will be a montage which celebrates the best of Elgin's independent businesses over the years.
