Fury at Callander insult
Hoteliers and restaurateurs in the Scottish town of Callander are upset by a guidebook that describes it as "crap".
The latest edition of Scotland the Best, by Peter Irvine, a guide on places to stay and eat in Scotland, was blunt about its dislike of the Perthshire town. Callander is now returning the insult with talk of banning Mr Irvine.
Paddy Crerar, sales director of North British Trust hotels, of which Callander's 70-room Dreadnought hotel is a member, said: "Time, money and effort have been spent to make the town more than a transit for day trippers. £800,000 was spent on the hotel four years ago to bring the standard up. Our weekend business has suffered as a result of this guide."
Jennifer McDonald, proprietor of Dalgair House, said: "I think everybody in Callander has suffered. It's not nearly as busy as last year. The local restaurants and coffee shops have suffered as far as casual enquiries are concerned."
About 50 of the town's business people were to meet at the Dreadnought hotel last Tuesday to decide what action they should take in response to the insult.
