Fun fair returns to Inverness after almost two years away
Horne's Pleasure Fairs are urging visitors to ensure they adhere to Covid-19 restrictions.
After 20 months away, a fun fair has returned to Bught Park in Inverness.
Horne's Pleasure Fairs are understood to be one of the first fairs in Scotland to re-open this year, after many regions moved to Level 1 covid restrictions last week.
They re-opened yesterday, and will remain in Inverness until June 27th.
Christian Horne, who co-runs the business with his father, says they are "over the moon" to be back.
He said: "We’ve had a long period off and we’re just hoping we get the weather and have a nice few weeks.
“Letting the kids back out to the fair and just really happy to be back up and running."
Christian also tells us how he feels about being one of the first travelling fairs to re-open and outlined the changes they've made due to the pandemic.
He added: "It’s not something I’m overly happy with from the point of view that I wish all the fairs were open today.
“The guidance was from June 7th, I’m one of the lucky ones, but really it would be good if there was more of them operating in other towns, that’s what we need.
“When the fair finishes in Inverness, unfortunately this year there’s no events for us (in Highland).
“The Black Isle Show is away and so is the Nairn Highland Games.
“I think the young people will be desperate to get back, the younger people are the less serious they take it. But, it’s a serious thing, and we’ve got to do our best.
“People are going to be very excited to get in there.
“In return, we need them to abide by the rules to make it safe for everyone.
"The main difference the public are going to notice is that when they arrive there will be more signage outside and they’ll have to track and trace.
“They’ll either have to scan the QR code if they have a smartphone or alternatively they’ll do it by pen and paper.
“There’s a one way system in place to try and keep everyone moving in the one direction around the site.
"We’ll be sanitising the rides, the staff will have face masks, we will be doing our best, but we also need the kids and the families to appreciate it’s a wee bit harder than normal.
"They need to play their part as well.
"We still want to make it fun, we can’t have it that it’s really miserable, but I think now everyone is learning to live with it and it will be fine."