The hospitality industry is expected to be hit with "another blow" for Scotland's city centres as the national train strikes begin today.
Tuesday 21 June marks the first day of industrial action for National Rail workers which has led to a mass amount of disruption around Scotland.
Only three services will be running from Edinburgh Waverley as 40,000 RMT members including signallers have walked out over a dispute pay and potential job cuts - making it the biggest strike in 30 years.
READ MORE- Rail strikes: Edinburgh drivers warned to expect severe traffic jams as services cancelled
Nearly 90 per cent of ScotRail services will be cancelled on Tuesday 21, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 June, with city centre venues set to bear the brunt of the knock-on impact of the strikes.
One of Scotland's leading wholesalers, Dunns Food and Drinks have warned the strikes will be "another blow" Edinburgh.
It comes at an already difficult time for Scotland’s city centres, as the figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium show sales growth continued to stall last month as people cut spending amid the cost of living crisis.
UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls told BBC Radio 4's Today programme firms were feeling "the impact of the rail strike both in terms of their workers not being able to get into work - but more importantly their customers not being able to travel".
Nathan Rowan, business to consumer director at Dunns Food and Drinks, believes some hospitality businesses could be forced to close during the action as staff struggle to get to work.
He said: “In general terms, the rail strikes represent yet another blow to city centres.
“A lot of the premises we supply see reasonable business up until around 8pm, however city centres are emptying rapidly and early. We have even seen reductions in our distribution vehicle weights, as city-centre venues prepare for a drop in customers this week.
“More people will be working from home on the affected days, so lunchtime trade in office areas could struggle. I wouldn’t be surprised if some even close on the days on the strike as staff will be unable to get to work.
“There are still a large number of home workers, but a reduced train timetable coupled with this week’s strikes means city centre venues will undoubtedly feel a more significant impact.”
Edinburgh-based brewers Vault City Brewing – who operate the Wee Vault tasting room and bottleshop on Maitland Street, next to Haymarket train station – are expecting to see a drop in footfall as a direct result of the strike action.
Co-founder Steven Smith Hay said it is like a 'double edged sword" as his shop relies on commuters using Haymarket.
He added: “Because of how close Wee Vault is to the station, we usually have a fair amount of commuters popping in for a drink or picking up a bottle to go after they’ve finished work for the day. We’re really conscious of the fact we’re going to see those numbers fall this week.
“On the other hand, we’re expecting to see more people waiting for longer periods in the bar until the next available train comes along which, in turn, could mean customers spend a little more money. It really is a bit of a double-edged sword.”
Edinburgh-based Cairngorm Coffee Roasters is also expecting to see a drop in customers at the firm’s coffee shops in the city centre and the west end.
However, co-owner Robi Lambie is concerned about the operational impact the strikes will have on his work force, too.
He said: “Our shop in the west end of the city is very popular with office workers, so we expect to see an impact on trade with fewer people commuting into Haymarket.
“However, we’re really going to feel the impact of these strikes firsthand when it comes to our workforce. Our recently appointed wholesale manager has been forced to find alternative transport to and from Glasgow, which is going to cause us a real headache.
“The bottom line is that although there’s a huge push to limit the amount of cars used in the capital, there’s not enough affordable and reliable alternative methods of transport for people who don’t live in the middle of the city centre.
“Without a reliable train service, I think many people will slip back into the work from home lifestyle quite comfortably, which feels like a step backwards for businesses in the hospitality industry once again.”
Despite concerns about disruption caused by the rail strikes across the country, there are hopes it could lead to a small boost in the number of customers choosing to eat out locally at lunchtime.
How have you been affected by the rail strikes? Let us know in the comments or get in touch at news@edinburghlive.co.uk
