Staff and customers at Carlton Bingo in Buckie "fairly chuffed" after reopening
STAFF and customers at Carlton Bingo in Buckie are "fairly chuffed" to be back after its first week open in 2021.
Aside from a brief spell in autumn 2020, the bingo hall on West Church Street has been forced to remain closed for the entirety of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown.
But things got back up and running on Monday, May 24, with a good attendance for eyes down on the first night back.
And, despite a slightly quieter second night on Tuesday, it was also a successful weekend.
Amanda Bush, team manager at Carlton Bingo, said: "It has been fantastic – we are fairly chuffed to be back.
"It's been a long year and you get attached to your customers, especially here in Buckie where we are like a wee family and know everybody coming in.
"We got a brief spell open in October, but it has been hard for the staff living on 80 per cent of their wage.
"We had a really good attendance for the first night open, well above our expectations. The staff have a really good rapport with the customers so they were all glad to see each other again.
"Some of the customers were even coming in with chocolates and sweeties for us!"
Carlton Bingo has taken on a few new members of staff for their reopening, with Amanda adding that they have enjoyed their first few days at work.
However, while bingo continues, it's not totally as normal and a number of precautions have been taken to limit the spread of Covid-19.
Amanda added: "We have got screens in place, two-metre distancing in operation and a one-way system.
"We have a wee bit of a reduced menu at the moment and are only serving from the bar with the staff taking the food to tables.
"But it's just good to be back."