25/05/2026
Well what a weekend that was!
As the sun shone, the hotel heaved with happy bank holiday makers..
Moffat was thronging with folks on jollies and as the weekend wore on we welcomed hundreds of customers across our threshold.
Friday was the warm up, calm but busy…
Then Saturday dawned.
Putting our resident band outside for the afternoon to play an extended set was a ‘fait accompli’.
It kept the garden at capacity all afternoon. As orders flew endlessly into the bar we were kept on our toes.
Saturday night was brisk and our tables stayed full until the final patrons left and we closed the doors.
Tired after being on our toes all day we turned in, knowing we needed some sleep ahead of Sunday..
As I powered up my laptop on Sunday morning, 114 pre booked covers winked out at me…
This told me we could double the figure with walk ins and random table requests - but only if we managed the service and the tables properly.
From the minute the doors opened at 12.30 we were heaving..
We had big groups in all day.. there were eight’s, thirteen’s, sixteen’s and so it went on. Regardless of the big groups we had to instill time limits and fit random walk ins around the bigger groups.
Not easy…we only have 15 tables!
Trying to accommodate twos and threes is no mean feat when you’re already virtually full..
It takes skill and a quick but logical mind as anyone charged with turning restaurant tables understands.
A wrong seating costs us heavily.
If you put two diners on a table that can accommodate four or five, particularly in peak service it really will create a cost implication.
Every cover counts and every decision counts when you are seating folk who wander in wanting to eat.
But we managed it and between us all, with a lot of hustling we flew by the seat of our pants we and pulled it off..
How we did it I do not know!
With hard of hearing customers flocking in we had to do DIY communication to bridge the language barrier whilst our electronic ordering system collapsed - meaning we couldn’t take drink orders.. so everyone flocked to fill their glasses at the bar 🤣
The till refused to open, we had a temperamental drinks dispenser and then the coffee machine that went on strike!
Then the finale…
As the last tables wandered in at 6pm we had high drama.
A very hot and tired Chef Alan started to feel unwell (he’s ok folks) and announced he didn’t feel able to carve meats for the last plates..
So we told our final customers what was happening and they were very kind and understanding..
But then out of the blue the chef rallied! He reappeared, returned to his post on the carvery for the final fifteen minutes, aided by a fan and some cold water.
And then we were finished..
Service completed, we closed at 7.30pm and checked our stats.
To see we had broken ALL previous records for any Sunday in the history of this regime - and in the shortest service time frame.
199 covers had been served in 5.5 hours.
What a result..
What a weekend
What a team.
I honestly often fantasise about beating a hasty retreat to a calmer life particularly with every new issue and challenge.
Checking out for good is a 2am fantasy I sometimes indulge in when it all gets too much..
Which is often
But then we have a weekend like this one and it all feels ok again..
Until the next drama comes along, that is!!
A big thank you to all our friends, regulars and customers who came along this weekend and supported us… come back soon!
Open today for a short lunch service 12 noon to 3.30/4pm.
01683 221150
