By Gillian McKenzie
OPERATORS and suppliers across Glasgow are making final preparations for this month’s Commonwealth Games.
With less than two weeks to go until the opening ceremony, which takes place at Celtic Park on July 23, licensees told SLTN they have taken on extra staff, bulked up orders and are working with suppliers to reschedule deliveries in accordance with road closures and diversions.
Patrick Collins, GM at La Rotunda, which is located next to the SSE Hydro, SECC and Clyde Auditorium venues (dubbed the ‘SECC precinct’), said the restaurant team’s preparations for the Games have been extensive.
Several roads in the area, including some providing access to and from the Clydeside Expressway, will be closed between July 21 and August 4, and Collins said deliveries to the 100-cover restaurant, which also has an 80-capacity outdoor area, have been rescheduled for between 11pm and 7am, for which the restaurant has hired a night porter.
Collins said he has been working closely with his suppliers, which include Belhaven, Inverarity Morton and Bibendum, which deliver two or three times a week; and meat and fish supplier Campbells and Glasgow Fruit Market, which deliver daily, to plan deliveries in accordance with the access restrictions.
“We have to tell a police officer, who will be at the end of the road, the times of the deliveries that night, the driver’s name and the vehicle details so the delivery can get through,” Collins told SLTN.
“If there are any changes to that we won’t get the delivery.
“We’ve been speaking to suppliers about stocking up on the things that we can. It is a lot of cash to have tied up in stock but we’re confident we’ll get through it.”
Graham Suttle, whose Kained Holdings company operates a number of Glasgow bars including Lebowskis and The Finnieston on Argyle Street, part of which has been designated ‘Core Games Route Network’, told SLTN he has also been in contact with suppliers and organisers to ensure deliveries can reach the venues; the outlets usually receive drinks deliveries three or four times a week and daily seafood deliveries from McCallums of Troon.
“We will try and carry a bit of extra stock but obviously with things like seafood and butcher meat you can’t do that,” Suttle told SLTN.
“We’ve been assured that deliveries shouldn’t be affected and our unit managers are in touch with suppliers and nothing has been red-flagged.
“The proof is in the pudding I guess, but it’s an exciting time for the city and a great opportunity for businesses.”
Wholesalers and suppliers told SLTN they are working to ensure deliveries run smoothly.
“We are planning evening deliveries and we expect to increase our weekend service,” said Chris Cosh of Wallaces TCB.
Ian Cumming of Inverarity Morton said: “We’ll liaise with the council to ensure that we are fully aware of any road closures, and will revise delivery routes and/or schedules to minimise the impact on the service we provide our customers.”
Jim Rowan, MD of Dunns Food & Drinks, said: “Suppliers all have a window of opportunity to deliver early morning, and so long as customers have confirmed their slot, we don’t foresee any problems.”
