OnTrade Scotland February Edition 2022

ontradescotland.co.uk

Magazine February 2022 Official Partner

Welcome to the February edition of OnTrade Scotland The majority of the utterly pointless restrictions placed on hospitality have been removed, we have nightclubs back (not before time) however we still have to deal with the ridiculous passport scheme, hopefully not for much longer (at the time of writing this).

Now in my humble opinion is the time for the industry to really come together in a positive way and move forward.

There are some many positive things happening by venues and groups that are pushing ahead and working with others to achieve something.

Venues like Radisson Red, The Record Factory, Thundercat, Angels Hotel, The Social, Kong and groups like Signature Pubs, Buzzworks & Lisini Group all act as inspiration as to what can be achieved if you put your mind to it.

We would encourage any owner that may be finding things challenging to pick up the phone to any of these guys & ask what they are doing and how they are approaching the same situations you will be facing as they have been there too.

As you will see from our cover we are asking from February, the month of love, #SHOWHOSPITALITYSOMELOVE Love from Government Love from the Public Love for the Suppliers Love for the Staff Love for Business and LOVE FOR EACH OTHER Happy Valentines to everyone when it comes and may this really be the month where we turn the corner and push ahead as an industry TOGETHER AS ALWAYS STAY SAFE STAY STRONG & STAY TOGETHER Justin Wingate Director at TopGunMedia For press enquires or advertising opportunists please call or email: Email: info@topgunmedia.co.uk Telephone: 0141 556 4111

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For the Record …

It’s an experience

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New Buzz set for Troon

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Gaucho A New Approach

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Jaded Dating 3

Industry News SIGNATURE AT THE BAR

On the January episode of At THE BAR, Nick Wood, owner & Louise MacLean Business, Development Director of Signature Pubs Group speak to Justin about the impact of the unforced restrictions put on the industry by Scottish Government via the back door as well as many other key topics.

The invaluable insight provided by one of the largest operator in the country famed for the experience created in it’s venues can only act as an inspiration to other venue owners that they are not alone in the challenges and that working together is hugely important to the progression and recovery of the sector.

Nick said “The amount of work that went into preparing for the festive period from us and many across the industry is massive, from the conversations you have with your suppliers to you central reservations team takes a lot of preperation given the number of groups

and parties looking to book into venues and to have that shipped away from you with no support is brutal.”

On discussing what is needed moving forward to improve matters and opinion across the industry that the government understands business and the full impact it has had Louise said “ What I would like to see, when the time is right, is the government turn their attention to business with the same fervour and they have focused on health and really encourage investment and growth.

I don’t think we need bugging up as we are a very vocal industry but encouraging people to come here and investment, showing they understand business as well as having a hospitality Minister dedicated to the industry”.

You can watch the full show at www.ontradescotland.co.uk/at-the-bar

SLTA WELCOMES EASING OF MEASURES BUT EXPRESSES CONCERN

The SLTA (Scottish Licensed Trade Association) has welcomed today’s announcement by the First Minister that the coronavirus restrictions introduced in response to the Omicron wave will end on on the 24th January.

However, the SLTA expressed concern over the continuing rules surrounding nightclubs as well as the threat of extending the Covid certification scheme to the wider hospitality industry that “is still hanging over businesses”.

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“The First Minister said that the Scottish Government had reached a difficult decision in deciding not to extend Covid passport certification beyond nightclubs to other parts of the hospitality sector – to all pubs, bars and restaurants – but we remain concerned that this option is still on the table.”

Expressing concern about the existing restrictions affecting nightclubs and the “reasonably minor change” announced today to the Covid certification regulations that have seen some premises avoid certification by placing tables on their dancefloor, Mr Wilkinson said: “This could have a huge impact on ‘hybrid’ premises.

“Large numbers of pubs that wouldn’t normally have any need to employ door staff could now have to do so, leading to increased staffing and running costs at a time when they can ill afford it. We eagerly await clarification on what the ‘reasonably minor change’ will be.” ontradescotland.co.uk

Brand News HEINEKEN UK PARTNERS WITH FOOTBALL CLUBS TO REMOVE PLASTIC FANS As part of a collaboration with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, the brewer has launched #NoPlasticFansHere campaign championing the removal of single-use plastics across the on trade Collaborating with Premier League clubs Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, HEINEKEN wants to remove plastic fans from football, but not as you might imagine Both clubs, together with support from suppliers such as HEINEKEN UK, have made significant steps in sustainability and, in a play on words, want to remove ‘fans of plastic’ from football

The #NoPlasticFansHere campaign has seen a series of reclaimed waste plastic sculptures appear at both the Etihad Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to bring to life the sustainability efforts of both clubs.

HEINEKEN UK delisted all single-use plastic bottles for cider & beer from its on-trade network in 2021, which will save almost 6 million PET bottles or 170 tonnes of plastic per year 1 The #NoPlasticFansHere campaign seeks to remove fans of plastic from football and inspire football fans, on trade outlets and the general public alike, to join the sustainability journey the three parties are on. By embracing the adoption of more sustainable and plasticfree alternatives, both clubs, with the support of suppliers, are looking to further reduce their plastic use, along with their carbon footprint and ultimately, their impact on the planet.

WAKEFIELD TRINITY SECURES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH MOLSON COORS European-style lager Madri Exceptional on the bar at Wakefield Trinity’s Be Well Support Stadium from the start of the 2022 Super League season.

“We think fans will really like the broad choice of drinks that we will have on offer in our bars for the new season,” said Verity Thomas, Commercial Manager at Trinity. “It’s great to be able to include hugely popular brands like Carling alongside exciting new options.”

Richard Hawthorn, regional on-trade director at Molson Coors, said: “We have partnerships with some of the most prestigious sports clubs across the UK and we’re pleased to add Wakefield Trinity to that list. We’re looking forward to kicking off this new partnership and supporting the club throughout the upcoming season and beyond.

Rugby League team Wakefield Trinity has agreed a new partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company for the upcoming 2022 season.

The three-year deal will see brands including the UK’s bestselling lager Carling[1], Worthington’s Creamflow, Sharp’s Cold River Cider and the recently-launched

“It’s important for any venue to have a balanced drinks offering at the bar – a rugby league matchday is no different. Our partnership with Wakefield gives supporters some of the nation’s favourite beer brands alongside an exciting new premium European-style lager in Madri Exceptional to choose from while they cheer on the team!”

Molson Coors Beverage Company has a brewing tradition stretching back more than 200 years. It includes iconic beer brands such as Carling, Coors and Doom Bar in its portfolio, which has over the years spread beyond the beer to include ciders, ready-to-drink cocktails and hard seltzers.

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ontradescotland.co.uk

For The Record...

It's an experience W

e sit down with the team behind the hugely popular and award winning Record Factory on Byers Road in Glasgow on what has the customers in a spin , from the venues being a home for the fantastic Open Goal show with SI Ferry & the guys to a thriving nighttime venue enjoyed by many.

The Record Factory is a large multi-purpose late night bar, restaurant and events venue based in the West End of Glasgow, right on Byres Road. We have massive venue split over several areas including more private rooms and a full stage. We also have one of the largest Beer Gardens in the West End which is covered and heated. We can cater for all sizes and requirements of bookings from Birthdays to Office Parties and everything in between, up to 150 guests.

We show all live sports and have 10+ large HD TV’s and multiple large projectors. We just received the SLTN Award for ‘Best Place to Watch the Match’ sponsored by SKY TV 7

as well as making the finals for several categories in the ‘The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards’, SLTN Awards and Molson Coors Entertainment and Hospitality Awards We have managed all of the restrictions and closures head on. It was certainly a challeng at times, especially when rules changed from one week to next with little notice.

We have adapted and made it through the last 2 years with all our staff and the business is going well. We spent a lot of time improving the venue during the down time including building a large pergola in our beer garden which is a fantastic addition to the venue.

Now the restrictions are lifting we are excited to be hosting larger events and bookings again. We have our sell out Super Bowl party in the middle of February which will be a lot of fun. We are also looking forward to the good weather returning so we can make full use of our beer garden which, fortunately, gets the sun all day long when the weather is fine.

We initially operated with split teams to ensure all staff didn’t work together. We are such a large venue, and luckily we retained all our staff, we are fortunate to have a large enough rota to cover any and all eventualities.

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Our suppliers have been absolutely fantastic. Obviously there have been supply issues in the industry but with good communication and alternatives offered by our suppliers we have been able to maintain a full range of products for our customers. Molson Coors, our principal brewer, have been fantastic, especially with refunding and replacing all the out of date kegs during lockdowns.

Inverarity Morton’s, our main supplier, have also been brilliant, going above and beyond on so many occasions whilst dealing with their own industry stock and driver shortages. Our Account Manager has been known personally to pack and drive a van round with stock if they had an issue, to ensure we are never short. Other mentions go out to Hamilton Wines and Diageo who have helped and supported us throughout the pandemic.

Really just a massive thanks to all our staff who stuck with us through the long, tough times. We wouldn’t be where were are without their tireless efforts. Finally, a big thanks to all of our loyal regulars, customers, clubs and societies, and don’t forget the Liverpool Reds and the boys from Open Goal who have stuck with us through all of the closures, rules changes and restrictions. Here’s to many more good times ahead! ontradescotland.co.uk

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Take your hospitality business to the next level with hungrrr What does hungrrr technology enable me to do?

Hungrrr technology allows you to introduce a feature-rich mobile app and website for your business. Our white-label ordering solutions will enable you to online orders, streamline operations and increase staff efficiency at the touch of a button, taking your business to the next level.

Which businesses is the technology suitable for?

Our technology is designed especially for the hospitality industry. Whether you own a pub, bar, restaurant or takeaway, or manage a hotel, stadium or conference venue, we can provide you with a mobile app or web solution tailored to the specific needs of your business.

How much does it cost?

For the majority of our customers, the service is free, forever. That’s right – you’ll pay no setup fee and no commission, ever. All we ask is that you cover the cost of your hardware and merchant fees. This allows you to retain 100% of your well-deserved earnings. If you’re setting up a hotel, stadium or conference website, the cost will be slightly different, however we’re committed to ensuring that there are no hidden costs at any stage of the build process.

How long does it take to get started?

This will be different depending on each business. If you’re looking for a simple app for a single restaurant or takeaway unit, our team can get this up and running in 1 – 2

weeks. For more complex app designs, e.g. hotels looking for separate booking systems for leisure activities, dining venues and more, the process will take a little longer. Our team can help clarify timescales at the initial enquiry stage, to ensure you’re happy with the timescales.

Can I host multiple businesses on the app?

Yes, you can. Hungrrr technology already powers mobile apps and websites for thousands of businesses throughout the hospitality industry, from single unit restaurants, to larger chains such as Subway and Di Maggio’s. Whatever the shape or size of your business, we can tailor an app with our feature-rich technology to suit.

How does hungrrr’s technology help my business?

By introducing your own website and mobile app, you can reduce reliance on big marketplaces such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats, while driving up revenue and supporting your staff. By enabling guests to place orders, request the bill and book tables on your own app, you will leave front of house staff free to handle other priorities, especially useful over the busy festive period.

Moreover, by hosting your menu on the app, you will have more opportunities to upsell with add size pricing, allowing you to drive up average order value. Even better, you can market directly to your customers who have downloaded the app with push notifications advertising special offers, themed nights, new menu additions and more.

Call 0330 900 2273 to request a free demo or email sales@hungrrr.co.uk.

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ontradescotland.co.uk

New Buzz set for Troon I

ndependent restaurant and bar operator, Buzzworks Holdings, is set to open the doors to its latest venture - live music venue The Fox - in Ayrshire in the coming weeks.

Independent restaurant and bar operator, Buzzworks Holdings, is set to open the doors to its latest venture - live music venue The Fox - in Ayrshire in the coming weeks.

The Fox, a casual live music bar, will open on the site of former restaurant Papi Milano, located on West Portland Street, Troon, having undergone a significant refit over the past 16 weeks.

The new proposition from the family-owned business, headquartered in Kilmarnock, will see customers able to enjoy Buzzworks unique blend of food, drink and style whilst providing a further boost to Troon’s leisure offering and its redevelopment creating 20 jobs locally.

With a capacity of up to 160 patrons, customers at The Fox will be able to enjoy live music and sport throughout the week, including a late license on both a Friday and Saturday night, whilst also being able to take advantage of a bookable golf simulator.

The new team working at The Fox will be led by Operations Manager, Johnny Blair. Johnny brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the new venue including 10

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years working within the Buzzworks portfolio.

Alongside an eclectic food offering, set to include Crispy breaded Buttermilk wings and Korean BBQ chicken bowls, The Fox will also boast a wide selection of drinks, including being only the second venue in Ayrshire to serve fresh, unpasteurised tank beer straight from the brewery – the first being Buzzworks owned venue Vic’s in Prestwick.

Johnny Blair said: “We’re proud to be investing once again in Troon, not only creating a further 20 jobs in Ayrshire, but bringing another exciting venue to the area.

It has been a unique project to work on and we can’t wait to officially open the doors and welcome our first customers to The Fox, our modern take on your local friendly pub.”

Buzzworks currently operates a portfolio of thirteen venues including Scotts in Troon, Largs and South Queensferry, Vic’s & The Vine in Prestwick, Lido venues in Prestwick and Troon, The Tree House in Ayr, The Long House and The Duke in Kilmarnock, The Mill House in Stewarton, The Corner House in Kilwinning, The Coach House in Bridge of Weir and their newest venue, The Bridge Inn in Linlithgow. ontradescotland.co.uk

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Gaucho - A New Approach G

aucho is a brand well known for its quality & providing a dining experience, with some fantastic venues in London and across the UK. We look at the team behind Edinburgh and the new Glasgow site and what we can expect and why they have a new approach.

Gaucho opened its first restaurant in London in 1994, taking inspiration from Argentina with a vision of bringing the world’s best steak to the UK.

The restaurant will follow in the footsteps of Gaucho Charlotte Street in London, becoming the group’s second restaurant to exclusively serve carbon neutral beef.

The collection of Gaucho restaurants in the UK has since grown to twelve in London and four regional sites in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Gaucho Glasgow will be located a stone’s throw from Central Station, a 120-cover venue right in the heart of the vibrant Scottish city.

Gaucho continues to serve some of the finest beef in the world, from Argentinian, premium Black-Angus cattle bred at hand-selected farms. This beef is now complemented by a broader food and wine offering, served in a contemporary setting, inspired by modern Argentina and all its global influences.

An evolution in design is being introduced across the brand to showcase a more contemporary design, reflecting the modern Gaucho and a more modern Argentina. This will be evident in the new Gaucho opening in Glasgow in early March 2022.

The launch of Gaucho Glasgow was first announced during COP26 in October 2021, with CEO Martin Williams unveiling plans to open Scotland’s most sustainable steak restaurant.

Gaucho launched in Edinburgh in 2017 and has been a hugely successful site for the brand ever since, with many travelling from Glasgow to Edinburgh to experience it. It has therefore long been clear that there is an appetite for Gaucho’s offering in Glasgow, with huge potential for the brand in Scotland’s largest city.

Furthermore, with Glasgow having recently hosted COP26, it became clear that the city was the perfect location for Gaucho’s next launch, in line with the brand’s ambitious impact and sustainability aims. Gaucho aims to become a net zero carbon business by 2030 and believes that the only way to achieve this as an industry is through collaborative action – what better place to spearhead this movement than in Glasgow. For Gaucho Glasgow, the first step in this process is becoming the first restaurant in 17

Scotland to serve exclusively carbon neutral beef.

Further to serving carbon neutral beef, Gaucho has big ambitions for the future, as seen in the launch of the Sustainable Steak Movement, which was announced during COP26 alongside the news of the new Glasgow restaurant.

The Sustainable Steak Movement, which is aligned with ‘Net Zero Now’, encourages steak restaurants to sign up to a manifesto. The manifesto pledges that in 2022 the participating restaurants will offer a ‘Carbon Neutral’ Beef option on their menus, promote a ‘Carbon Neutral’ wine offering, commit to minimise food waste and the use of ‘green energy’ in their restaurants. By 2025 the participating restaurants will offer an exclusively ‘Carbon Neutral’ Beef menu and in 2030 members will commit to become ‘Net Zero’ venues, using the ‘Zero Carbon Forum’ as a roadmap.

Keir Beckwith, General Manager of Gaucho Glasgow: “We’ve been lucky that we haven’t struggled with staffing. The economy is bouncing back and we are seeing an increase in high quality applications. Gaucho has a reputation as a great place to work, and this combined with the extensive training program that we offer, acts as a huge pull for staff.”

Alyson Parkes, Impact Manager for Rare Restaurants 18

(including Gaucho and M Restaurants): “We are focusing on local suppliers around the Glasgow area. As well as reducing food miles, and therefore the carbon footprint embedded in transporting ingredients, it gives us the opportunity to celebrate Scottish produce and support local causes within the community. We will be working with our suppliers in Glasgow to address packaging in our supply chain: seeing where we can reduce packaging where possible, implement reusable packaging systems with suppliers, and work to eliminate all packaging that is not currently recyclable”.

As part of Gaucho’s commitment to becoming a net zero business, the beef offering in Glasgow and Charlotte Street is 100% carbon neutral. Further to this, there is a ‘zerocarbon’ steak option available in all Gaucho restaurants. In conjunction with working with farming partners to reduce carbon footprint at source, Gaucho have also joined the Not For Sale organisation in a reforestation project in the Amazon, which takes local people out of danger of modern-day slavery.

Furthermore, there is a ‘Top with a Tree’ option on all Gaucho menus, where for £2 guests can top any steak with a ‘tree’ and Gaucho will plant a further sapling as part of their reforestation project. ontradescotland.co.uk

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Recently, I was invited to talk about being Speed Dating on BBC radio with the Love Guru, Paul C Brunson from Celebs go Dating. He agreed that Speed Dating was the best thing a single person could do. Even if you don’t meet a potential, you are having on average 15 dates, so you’ve improved your dating game at least. We decided to call it the “dating gym” and I promise you that attending one of my nights… like the gym you won’t regret it!

My goal is to make single people feel better about being single, enjoy dating and to put themselves out there. I would also like to stress that I am not slagging dating apps, just suggesting a night off them and if the pandemic has taught us anything, in person really is the better option.

As a Glasgow business, I am passionate about holding the events in local venues so if you own a bar or a venue then please get in touch with me jade@jadeddating.com I look forward to matching you soon!

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LIFELINES, LEASES AND LANDLORD CONCESSIONS We are now almost two years on from the start of the pandemic. There has been a lot of discussion about furlough, grants, restrictions, even face masks. Arguably the premises (alcohol) licence is the most important consideration for a licensed trade business, but what about the actual premises?

Where operators lease premises, many a discussion about rent concessions and similar have taken place over the last two years.

Some operators have been able to recover an element of business losses, including rent, through insurance.

Eilidh MacEwan Where are we Mobile: 07376 192 463 now and it is Email: emacewan@gilsongray.co.uk too late to look Direct Dial: 0131 285 1809 at discussions and options for unpaid rent? The answer is no. It’s one of the sensible things to consider now, before it’s too late, to give a business a better footing going forward. It could be a lifeline if an operator is struggling to see how the books will balance this year after the effects of restrictions and closures. But, it is also important that operators do not ignore outstanding rent or presume no action can be taken, as that is not the case. Now is the time to have the conversation, no matter how uncomfortable. We can help with that, putting onto paper the issues (both general and those unique to your business) and making the actual approaches to landlords.

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IRRITANCY FOR NON-PAYMENT OF RENT If rent is not paid in Scotland, landlords can irritate the lease. This is different to the position south of the border which can cause confusion In Scotland, landlords need to give tenants 14 weeks’ notice of a missed rental or other payment before the lease can be irritated. This has prevented many leases from being irritated as often tenants can find funds to pay the rent, or agree a payment plan or concessions with their landlord, during the 14 week notice period. This is scheduled to end on 31 March 2022 when the notice period returns to 14 days so it is important to act now.

Many think this will lead to a raft of irritancy notices being served on 1st April, but another school of thought is that landlords will raise an action for outstanding rent but will not try to remove the tenant. Why? The pandemic and its effects was, and remains, something out with the control of licensed trade operators. It also affected operators across the board, not just a small number. Landlords recognise tenants may be able to pay going forward, so keeping a tenant who is again paying rent, and coming to an agreement on arrears, makes sense. But the reality is if tenants do not have the difficult conversation about rent still due they may find themselves in court.

PURSUING RENTAL ARREARS There is no current bar on debt recovery actions for rent arrears in Scotland. Landlords should also want to check if leases permit summary diligence - actions such as arrestment of funds without the need for court action. This ability to proceed straight to enforcement for recovery of arrears whilst leaving the lease in place and ontradescotland.co.uk

a unit in continued occupancy has proven invaluable to many and is a tactic we foresee continuing throughout 2022.

While debt recovery actions and summary diligence for rent arrears are currently permitted in Scotland, statutory demands and winding up petitions cannot be issued for debts relating to leases. Any debts related to a lease are excluded from such action until 31 March 2022 and we suspect that will be extended beyond 1st April 2022, but will keep you up to date ARBITRATION FOR PANDEMIC RENT ARREARS (ENGLAND AND WALES) The Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill is currently making its way through Parliament. If passed, it will create an arbitration scheme for pandemic rent arrears for premises in England and Wales. It is to focus on businesses that were forced to shut during the course of the pandemic. For landlords and tenants that cannot agree a deal on rent arrears incurred during the pandemic, an arbitrator will be asked to make a decision on what is to be paid. In coming to a view on the sum payable, the arbitrator will have to balance preserving the viability of the tenant’s business against preserving the solvency of the landlord. While arbitration is available or ongoing,

landlords will be prevented from raising debt recovery actions for the outstanding rent payments or from trying to wind up the tenant. Larger tenant entities may be able to cause their landlords significant problems with this brand new procedure, and for landlords who have already faced months of cash flow problems caused by non-paying tenants that could result in significant financial distress.

CODE OF PRACTICE – UK WIDE The government issued an updated code of practice for landlords and tenants of commercial property on 9 November 2021. It is not binding on parties but in many respects mirrors the considerations for in the proposed arbitration scheme referred to above. For tenants that are unable to meet their lease obligations in full, the code of practice expects landlords and tenants to negotiate to share the cost of pandemic rent arrears. Landlords are expected to waive some or all of the debt if possible.

It is our view that 2022 will see another raft of high profile commercial lease disputes. As always, landlords and tenants should get proper expert advice on any issues that they are facing, as getting that advice early can bring about outcomes that are lost if financial difficulties arise or become more acute.

If you have any questions on this or any other legal matters you would like us to address in future please get in touch by email at ontrade@gilsongray.co.uk

The right advice has never been more important.

We’re honoured to have been chosen as the exclusive partner of OnTrade Magazine Scotland. As one of Scotland’s full-service law firms we’re able to offer specialist legal, property and financial services.

We’re here to help in a time when support and clarity are needed most – offering valuable advice and insight on everything from licensing, business financing, employment and real estate.

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To find out more please call Jo Millar on 0141 370 8116 or email jmillar@gilsongray.co.uk

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TO LOOK GREAT, YOU NEED TO FEEL GREAT. FOR LONG-LASTING RESULTS, YOUR EXPERIENCED DOCTOR-LED ÉST-ETHICS WELLNESS CLINIC TEAM FOCUSES ON EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR HEALTH AND BEAUTY.

ALL THE ÉST-ETHICS TEAM ON 0141 230 5781

INDOOR - OUTDOOR

www.bdpcontractfurniture.co.uk Suppliers of Bespoke Banquette and booth seating Manufactured in our Glasgow workshop to a very high standard Suppliers of quality contract indoor and outdoor furniture Recovery and polishing service

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