2020 events calendar could be a complete write-off until next year

This time of year would usually be packed with Highland Games, local shows and festivals.

Published 19th May 2020

A North East catering company are expecting their vans to be parked up gathering dust until 2021, given that so much of this year's calendar has already been wiped out through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Graham Whyte of G&M Whyte near Keith believes that the remnants of 2020s events will in time be postponed, and it's just a matter of time as to when those still remaining are called.

Despite the end of the football season, Graham admits that from May until September his catering vans are usually seeing their busiest time of year, with Highland Games, local shows, outdoor concerts and festivals.

"I'm a very positive person, but I can't see any events in 2020" said Graham, "I would honestly think that even our big end of year one - Hogmanay in Edinburgh - we'll probably hear by June that there'll be a statement on that one too"

"We've furloughed our staff from the office and the rest of us are just sitting waiting. The other part-time staff make up quite a high proportion of the people we'd have on-board"

"The health of people has to be the no.1 priority"

Graham imagines that it's not just vendors like himself, but several other suppliers and event organisers who are also suffering following the numerous events which have been cancelled.

However, that said, unlike other businesses who may be keen to resume following lockdown, Graham believes with large gatherings there can be no half-measures.

"The staff are quite desperate to get back. We've looked at different things, where we could do this or that, but social distancing means we're very limited"

"The health of people has to be the no.1 priority and we're in a very difficult situation, for example the football which we're all wondering about, but again, I can't see at the moment how we would get round that"

"It's going to be very interesting these next couple of weeks to see where we are with figures to see if there's any climb in the numbers, but we have to keep people safe"

"It's a very difficult situation, but for now people have got to adhere to the rules, stay at home and keep people safe"