A NORTH Berwick hotel is providing free rooms for key workers during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

The Nether Abbey Hotel shut its doors to the public last month for the first time since 1958, and all its staff are observing the stay-at-home advice.

The hotel is, however, continuing to provide a place to stay for those who are still working and need to undertake essential travel.

Its owners, Jela and Stirling Stewart, wanted to follow all Government instructions, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s request that hotels remain open to support those providing vital services.

The couple said: “At first we were not sure who would need accommodation or who would be travelling.

“However, it soon became apparent that we needed to continue to provide this service, and companies are really grateful that we are open to them, albeit in a very altered state with extremely limited facilities.

“So far we have had engineers who are carrying out vital works at Torness and a representative of a company who needed to travel from the south of England to repair vital agricultural equipment.

“We have also had NHS staff who are working nights and then going home to try and sleep in a household with young children and just want somewhere quiet to sleep during the day – we are offering this service to all key NHS workers and emergency services free of charge.

“Guests are restricted to their rooms to protect us and the remaining couple of volunteers, and all public areas are closed off.

“Luckily there are still a few takeaways open, which means they can get an evening meal and we provide a breakfast for them to take to work.

“We are observing a strict rota of rooms that are used and these are not entered for 72 hours after someone has departed to ensure we minimise all risk. Deep cleaning then takes place.

“It has been quite tough going but as more small hotels shut their doors completely, we feel we can’t turn our backs on those services and members of the public that need us now.”

For further information call Stirling or Jela Stewart on 01620 892802 or email bookings@netherabbey.co.uk