Perthshire hotel owners ‘devastated’ as 70% of bookings cancelled due to rail strikes

By Hannah Ballantyne

June 18 2022, 8:00am

Steph and Scott Meikle, who run Moor of Rannoch Restaurant and Rooms.

The owners of a Perthshire hotel say they are “devastated” after 70% of their bookings have been cancelled due to the rail strikes.

Moor of Rannoch Restaurant and Rooms, in Rannoch Station, has lost most of its custom this week as Network Rail workers prepare to take industrial action.

No trains will be running north of the central belt on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.

Scott and Steph Meikle, who run Moor of Rannoch, say they fear for the firm’s finances and are trying to secure new bookings.

MASS CANCELLATIONS = Lots of rooms available !!!

Due to RMT Industrial action the railways across the UK will effectively grind to a halt between 21st & 26th June.

70% of our guests usually arrive/depart by train, unfortunately we have lost almost all of our bookings that week. pic.twitter.com/r0bUZd7RR5

— Moor of Rannoch Restaurant & Rooms (@moorofrannoch) June 15, 2022

Scott said: “We are in a very remote location, we run a small restaurant and have five rooms to rent.

“Train cancellations really impacts us because it is the main way that guests can access us

“We were 100% occupied originally, now we are 70% vacant, it’s quite scary.

“It’s a frustrating situation, our bookings have really suffered. This is devastating.

“Previously, over 70% of our business came from those who travelled here by rail.

“We are on the route through to Glenfinnan, so tourists come to visit us for a few nights along the way.

“We really hope that we can get these rooms filled. We still have overheads to consider, even if the rooms are vacant.

“How can we pay the bills when so many of our rooms are vacant?”

‘Stressful situation’ for Perthshire businesses

Tourism bosses in the area say they expect the impact of the strikes – which come with ScotRail already operating a reduced timetable due to its own pay dispute – to be significant.

David Smythe, chair of Perthshire Tourism Partnership said: “Rural areas especially will feel the weight of this.

“Many rural businesses rely on the trains for both customers and staff getting to work, so this is a really stressful situation to be in.

Moor of Rannoch Restaurant and Rooms.

“The train is integral to rural Perthshire’s tourism, and this is really going to sting for places.

“We are in trouble at the minute, rural businesses need the railway.”

Vicki Unite, chief executive of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “After Covid, in the midst of a cost of living crisis, if people can’t rely on rail transport to get to a venue, many will understandably elect to stay at home, and this could spell disaster for some businesses.”