downsmail.co.uk


Business ‘booming’ for local restaurants


NO-SHOWS for restaurant book- ings are not as widespread as some reports have claimed, Downs Mail has learned. One Maidstone restaurant


owner claimed recently the issue was affecting a catering industry already struggling with the pan- demic.


But his claims that almost half


the bookings in his restaurant failed to arrive for their booked ta- bles, resulting in staff being sent home with reduced hours and in- comes, have been viewed as exag- gerated by other catering outlets. James Porter, assistant manager


at Miller and Carter Steakhouse in Sandling Road said: “No-shows have been few and far between. “The number of bookings is much the same as pre-lockdown with lots of people booking tables. Our busiest times are weekends and we do take a deposit of £5 per person to help ensure attendance.


It’s very positive for us right now.” Helen Fowler, manager of Fish on the Green in Bearsted (pic- tured), said: “We’ve not much ex- perience of no-shows. If people are cancelling, most call to let us know. We’re actually busier now than pre-lockdown.” At Frederic’s, the French bistro


in Market Buildings, Maidstone, a spokesman said: “It’s not a prob- lem. We have no staff worries and


should we get any cancellations they are offset by ‘walk-ins’.” A spokesman for Italian restau- rant, La Villetta, in Pudding Lane, said: “No-shows are a sad reality and we have seen some increase since re-opening in May. “We don’t take a deposit to se-


cure a table, but we are thinking of it more seriously now. Customers not honouring a booking means we suffer financially as we cannot replace those covers.”


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News Council back


to cabinets MAIDSTONE Borough Council’s new administration’s decision to revert to a cabinet system of gover- nance will go ahead. The Conservatives, who gained a substantial majority in the May elections, want to move away from the present committee system as it is seen as slow and cumbersome. Some councillors fear it puts too much power in the hands of un- elected council officials.


The cabinet system means half a


dozen councillors takes swifter de- cisions.


The Lib Dems opposed the change, which could cost £20,000.


Surgery illness


A MAIDSTONE surgery was forced to change the way it pro- vides services because of staff shortages.


Four GPs and clinicians at Vines Medical Centre are having to self- isolate because of Coronavirus and illness. Patients faced the prospect of having appointments rescheduled or changed.


www.gboxkent.com 01233 660 099


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