In addition to being assessed by VisitScotland as 'Good to Go’ under their Covid safety scheme, we are very pleased to be have been accepted as part of the the AA Covid Confident scheme.

The AA is the UK’s largest motoring organisation with over 15 million members. The members use the organisations website for all things to do with motoring including planning journeys. This will be a useful tool for us as we operate in uncertain times for helping us market our business, UK wide to staycationers.
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To be eligible as members of this scheme, we had to submit our risk assessments, staff training records and information about our working practices and the physical changes we’ve made to the café to allow for social distancing and extra hygiene like our new outdoor wash hand basin and numerous hand sanitising stations throughout the café.

We hope that most of all this latest accreditation will give you, our customers enhanced peace of mind that we are on our game when it comes to all things Covid and your safety.

Safety is vital…everyone’s talking the talk, but we are working hard to walk the walk!

• We have Installed and implemented an on line ordering service to allow you to pre order via our website or QR code for a Click & Collect option with delivery of your food directly to the boot of your car. Alternatively, this method is also available for on the spot car park ordering using our extended WiFi and internally for the fastest service when dining inside the cafe direct from your table. Once you have an account set up on our system, the ordering process is very fast and easy for any subsequent visits. The on line nature of the ordering means your data is filed by a third party data storage company so that we comply with Track & Trace legislation. You can see our full Privacy Policy by clicking on this link.
• If you are not computer savvy enough to master the on line ordering or you don’t have a smart phone, our team are happy to help you by taking your order using our mobile ordering device. 
• Please be aware that we are now cashless to help us cope better and more safely with the "new normal".
• We are not taking bookings but require everyone who wants to come in to wait to be seated in a socially distanced and orderly manner at the front door so that we are confident the tables and chairs have been thoroughly cleaned after previous customers and to control the numbers inside the café at any one time. 
• We would ask you to please be patient if there is a slight wait for a table, as this is for everyone’s safety and sanity!
• We are operating a one way system which is clearly marked on the floor and have made a traffic light system to indicate whether there is anyone in the toilets as we only want them used on a one in, one out, basis.
• ​We have windows and doors open somewhat to allow increased ventilation.
• Masks are available if you don’t have one for a minimum donation of 50p to the amazing charity Toilettwinning.org.
• Physical menus are available which are laminated and cleaned after each use.
• We have invested in high vis uniforms and PPE for staff working outside and in the car park so that they are easily identifiable, for yours and their safety.
• We have installed an outside wash hand basin (see photo below). It is situated just outside the front door so that you can wash your hands without entering the building, it has hot water, soap and paper towels.
• We have multiple sanitising stations throughout the café and outside at the entrance.
• We have lidless litter bins which are emptied regularly.
• We have added additional outside tables and are looking at an outdoor wood burning stove for winter for waiting and outside eating.
• We have reduced the menu so that we can manage with less staff in the kitchen.
• When the café is open it is a 1m socially distanced environment in which masks are mandatory if you are moving about.

​Back in October 2019 we held our inaugural 'Gluten Free Fortnight' and it has been judged as worthy of a top slot in the category of 'Best Marketing Campaign' for these prestigious awards. 
 
We are delighted – obviously! Its great for the motivation of our team to be recognised in this way and that’s something which is double valuable during these testing times. The fact that all of the other finalists bar one are part of large, national or international multiples makes it feel like an achievement just to be there, although of course we want to win!
 
Its also good news for our customers when we succeed within the industry in a high profile manner with a promotion like this. This is because these promotions are built on collaborations with larger supplier companies and organisations than ourselves, and this sort of prestigious recognition means it will be easier for us to get support to put together more and even better events in the future.
 
We were very grateful to all the customers who came from far and wide to try the special menu and gave us glowing reviews and to those who completed our questionnaire for the market research by our SVQ candidates. Finally, to those who shared our posts and spread the word on social media and by word of mouth, we thank you all.
 
We fully intend to put on a re-run of Gluten Free Fortnight during 2021, so watch this space.
 
#Cateys2020 @Caterertweets @CoeliacUK @KerryFoodsOfficial #Goldensheafbattermixes @GreenCityWholesale

I want to start by thanking you, our customers and supporters, sincerely for your patience and messages of support through what has and will continue to be a stressful and very challenging time for the business.

The safety of our customers and team has been our number one priority. To this end, we are pleased to have been awarded the #GoodtoGo kite mark by VisitScotland for our risks assessments and Covid safe working practice guidelines.

We will open officially on 23 July from 11am - 9.00pm, 7 days a week for our new Click & Collect and Take Away service. You will be able to order using the QR code on the menu or via our website. If however the slots are filled up, you can order from the car park where you will be met by our friendly Front of Car Park team! You will be asked for your car registration number when you order and when your food is ready it will be delivered to your car boot in a contactless service.

If you are on foot or a motor bike you will be asked for a table number from one of our outside tables and we will deliver your food to you there.

If you are in the area you will see activity before 23 July.

We are inviting local key workers on 14th July. This first fry and limited hours opening is strictly by invitation only.

From 15 - 23 July, we intend to open from 11am - 8.00pm. We may however have to close at short notice during these early days if there are any glitches in our new system that need sorted out.

This change to our service, the new safety measures and the technology upgrade represent significant change for us so we would ask you to drop in and support us if you are passing by or in the area but please do not travel miles to see us until 23 July or after. We love the fact and are really grateful that many of you travel (and even run) so many miles to eat our Fish & Chips but please do not plan to do this before 23 July as we'd hate to disappoint you by being closed to fix a problem.

You will notice that our re-opening menu is somewhat reduced from the normal selection but it does include our very popular Gluten Free Fish & Chips! (All our Coeliacs customers can take a breath!)

We will be keeping the menu size and selection and our service model under constant review. We intend to increase the menu selection and open the inside of the cafe when we feel confident to do so, but not before.

The public loos next door are now open and so they are available in these initial weeks if you have the call of nature!

Once again, I would reiterate that we are deeply grateful for all of your support and patience. We may not get this all right from day one, but please know that we are giving it everything we have to make it as safe as possible and to give you great tasting food which of course includes our famous Fish & Chips!

Keep following and share for further updates and to let you know when the slots go live.

Best wishes

Sarah and the Real Food Cafe Team.

#WeAreComingBack
#Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
#National Federation of Fish Friers - NFFF
#Visitscotland
#Coeliac UK
#MSC - Marine Stewardship Council

We are gearing up to re-open on Thursday 23rd July when we will be introducing our new Click & Collect and contactless Take Away services.
 
Your safety and that of our team comes first and we have been working hard on having all the necessary hygiene and safety measures in place before we re-open.

We are proud to say that we are now certified as ‘Good to Go’ by VisitScotland as part of their new Covid-19 safety accreditation scheme.
 
Scan the QR code or CLICK HERE to go to the menu to order. Our menu is slightly shorter than normal but does include our hugely popular Gluten-Free Fish & Chips and Vegan and Vegetarian options. We hope to be able to build our menu up to the pre-Covid selection once we are up and running.

We envisage that the Click & Collect slots will go fast, so if you cant get a slot because they are already sold out then come along, order in the car park and join the virtual queue.

Your food will be delivered to your car boot when it is ready by one of our friendly team…You don’t nee dot leave the comfort of your car.
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The public toilets next door are due to be open by Stirling Council on 3 July.
 
Please be assured that even though you wont see our faces behind masks, we will be very happy to see you again and you’ll see the smile in our eyes.
 
We cant wait to welcome you back!