Scots restaurant gives away free alcohol
An Edinburgh restaurant has been giving diners alcohol for free while it waits for its licence.
Chinese restaurant Chop Chop in Leith has been giving beer and wine away since opening on 14 June after a £100,000 refurbishment, at a loss of around £200 each week.
But owner Roy King isn't worried. "I don't see it as a loss," he said. "It's like a marketing cost — you can easily spend that amount or more on half a page of advertising."
Chop Chop's provisional licence has come through but King is waiting on a visit from the environmental health inspector before it can be confirmed and he can start charging for alcohol. He expects to have a licence by 20 July.
"I am sure that people will keep coming when we start charging for drinks," said King. "We have been nearly full every day — it's been beyond my expectations. Last Saturday we had 200 covers for lunch and dinner." The venue seats 84 people.
Chop Chop is the second in King's chain. The first opened in January 2006 and has appeared on Gordon Ramsay's F Word as one of the best local restaurants in the UK.
A strong base of 3,500 loyalty customers are regularly emailed with updates and offers, which has helped build business quickly at the new site.
Current offers include free corkage for Bring Your Own Bottle customers until the end of July and vouchers to the value of £12 per group for the next visit.
