Letters / Another lost opportunity

It’s a shame that Mareel couldn’t get staff to have their cafe open on Sunday as it was absolutely heaving with Shetland Wool Week participants, craft fair visitors and those heading to the cinema.

At 1pm there was hardly any food left on the shelves and one poor lad was doing sterling service dispensing hot drinks to a long queue at the sweetie counter. And although their Facebook post said the cafe area would be open 10-4 at the weekend, it wasn’t.

It’s all rather embarrassing when you’ve visitors from far off and you’re trying to promote the islands in its ‘flagship’ arts centre (I use the word tentatively!) ….

Sadly, another lost opportunity to add to all the other sad lost opportunities.

But they weren’t alone …. the museum cafe was closed also.  I’m totally aware of the national shortage of staff (although I sense there are other factors at play here too) and you might not be able to serve or provide hot food but at least open the cafe bar area in Mareel so folk can sit down to sup their takeaway coffees and contemplate their non-existent sandwiches.

Even a Shetland Arts trustee or senior member of staff could have volunteered to sit in and keep an eye on the place.

Peter Davis
Wester Skeld