By Ralph Barnett, at the Open

TRADE IS rocketing in Carnoustie with businesses opening around the clock to cope with the demands of tens of thousands of golf fans from across the globe.

Businesses are reaping the benefits that hosting the Open can bring, with the vast majority of shops, food outlets, pubs and hotels extending their opening hours to cash in.

As well as keeping the fans happy, some are serving the world’s top golfers.

Colin Cooper, proprietor of the Carnoustie Chippie, is opening at 8.30am every day until 1am and said he’s never seen business like it.

“Jack Nicklaus stopped by for fish and chips earlier this week,” said Colin. “It’s like a fair. Business is booming.

“People from all over the world have been coming in for fish and chips at 8.30am.

“We’re running our basic menu, but it’s fish, fish, fish. All the tourists want fish suppers and it’s big orders we’re taking.

“I’m on a high because we’re only a small shop but we’re serving non-stop all day.

“We’re busier than we were in ’99 and yesterday we had our busiest day’s trade since opening 12 years ago.

“If the previous days are anything to go by, I’m expecting to have a cracking weekend.

“Despite the weather it’s a happy crowd. Carnoustie always seems to come off as the poor relation to St Andrews but a lot of people are saying how friendly they are finding Carnoustie.”

Luciano Iannetta has been keeping the big names fed and watered during championship week.

Mr Iannetta, owner of Ristorante Pizzeria Belmonte, said Jim Furyk, Justin Leonard, David Toms and Miguel Angel Jimenez are among the golfers that have dined at the eaterie.

“The restaurant is extremely busy but we’re coping impressively,” he said.

“I’ve been serving lots of big names during the week and they’ve been coming in quite often—we had 25 golfers in the restaurant one evening.

“I’ve never seen the town looking so good. I just wish that it would last another three weeks.”

Debbie Fairweather, owner of the Scotch Corner cafe, is opening 24 hours a day to cope with demand.

“We’ve been extremely busy and the atmosphere has been terrific,” she said.

“It’s been absolutely crazy and the till hasn’t stopped ringing. We’ve been rushed off our feet but we’re enjoying every minute of it.

“They have been coming from all over the world—young and old—buying a lot of breakfasts, a lot of fish and a lot of cheeseburgers.

“If I added up the number of breakfasts we’ve sold it would be scary!”

The cafe has also turned its former smoking area into a driving range and golf shop.

A sign outside the cafe proclaims, “We will not be putting our prices up during the Open championship.”

Touching on the issue, Kathleen Crowe, secretary of the Carnoustie Business Association, said people were finding the prices in town more favourable than those on the course where a fish supper costs £5.50 while a bacon bap is £3.50.

Evening customers at her shop, Links to Scotland, are being offered a free dram and shortbread.

Mrs Crowe said, “We want everybody who comes to the Open to have a great time but, more importantly, we want them to come back.

“The shop has been amazingly busy. There’s a real buzz about the town.

“You can feel the excitement on the High Street and we’re hoping all businesses in Carnoustie have had the same experience that we have had.”

David Valentine, head of economic development for Angus Council, said, “The event is going to generate £20 million for Tayside and North Fife.

“That’s probably the regional impact in terms of event, but the reputation and prestige means that this is a golf destination year in year out.

“What we’re doing here isn’t about this week, it’s about the next several years down the line.”