Falkirk pub takes on staff as business grows

John Hamilton of Jolly Gin and Craft will foot 50 per cent of the bill every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in September when customers can enjoy money off food and non-alcoholic drinks.

Delivery and collection orders made via the Jolly Gin and Craft app are included in this month’s deal.

The Wooer Street business extended the discount scheme on the back of a successful August which boosted the eatery following months of inactivity, brought on by the coronavirus lockdown.

John, who has been involved with the bar-restaurant since it launched in 2018, said: “Since we reopened after lockdown the trade we’ve seen has been quite steady through the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.

“We’ve actually increased trade by 60 per cent which makes a viable business a profitable business.

“We went through a learning curve – we need to employ more people.

“We’ve had to get more staff in the kitchen and more guys out the front. We now employ an extra seven members of staff.

“It’s all about cash flow. For months we had nothing and the discount scheme was key.

“A lot of businesses had said they’d seen a fall in trade at the weekends but we didn’t see any decrease.”

John has added some other changes since reopening.

He added: “We’re now open seven days. It was five before lockdown.

“The structure remains the same. We will always focus on premium spirits, cocktails and food. Just now we’re floating along to see what the government guidance is on when we can start entertainment.

“I just hope we can get people to come out and use local businesses in Falkirk.”

Call 01324 629476 for more details.