Diary of a Shopkeeper, 6th April
BID is in action again, with new manager Morgan Maxton Walls bringing fresh ideas to the town centre. Yesterday was Kirkwall’s first ever official Dog Friendly Day. A new take on an old favourite, the Spring Fling, is coming up on the 19th. Expect Easter eggs.
Meanwhile, BID has been organising useful meetings to brief local businesses on the opportunities and challenges presented by the Island Games this July. Here’s a brief summary of what I learned:
The Games will run from Saturday 12th to Friday 18th July, with the opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon being followed by six days of competition.
Representatives from two dozen island groups around the world will be with us, from old friends Shetland and Faroe, to exotic Saint Helena and Bermuda, and in-the-news Greenland. (Let’s give Greenland a specially warm welcome!)
They’ll compete in 12 sports from archery to athletics, bowls to badminton, cycling to sailing. Not everything is at the Picky Centre: events are spread across the Mainland.
All events are free to attend – ideal entertainment for the school holidays. While outdoor sports like football can handle unlimited spectators, numbers for indoor venues like the pool are limited: I believe they’re a case of first come first seated.
All in all, it’s going to be a week of mighty effort, remarkable achievement and global friendship. And a lot of fun. I’m particularly looking forward to the wrestling match between Lorraine Kelly, the Games Ambassador, and Ola the Orca, our mascot. At least I think that’s what Cheryl, BID’s Chair said, I may have misheard.
So, what does this mean for Kirkwall’s shops and businesses? It’s estimated there will be something over 2,000 competitors and judges at the games, but the expectation is that most of them will be at the sporting venues most of the time, either competing, training or supporting their teammates. We won’t see much of them down the street.
How about spectators? I’m told that every hotel, B&B and self-catering unit in the Mainland is fully booked for the week, and some at least of those guests must be here for the games. They’re very welcome, and we’ll be delighted to see them if they pop in. But it’s worth noting that all accommodation is always fully booked in the middle of July, so the Games spectators don’t constitute a bigger crowd than would usually be here at that time.
How about cruise? For years the council told us that numbers of liners couldn’t be limited, as any vessel requesting the right to dock had to be allowed in. Mention was made of the Port Marine Safety Code of 2016 and even the Harbours, Piers and Docks Act of 1847. This year we’re starting to see results of the council at last taking a more proactive attitude to capping numbers, with no overwhelmingly busy days but a more even spread of passengers across the season. The Games week has been kept almost entirely clear. On Sunday 13th 296 passengers call in; on Wednesday 16th, 954; and on Friday 18th, 998. As all Kirkwall shopkeepers know, anything under 1,000 is – while welcome – negligible in terms of crowding. 998 liner folk will melt into the general shoppers and Kirk Green dawdlers.
As for road closures, there is none associated with the liners and only a few short ones associated with the Games. The exception is Wednesday 16th, when the cycling road race speeds around the West Mainland, requiring rolling closures from 9.45am to 4.30pm.
In short, unless you’re at one of the venues, you’re unlikely to be aware of an extra influx of visitors that week. And if you’re a shopkeeper, while you hope that the competitors, judges and spectators will drop in at some point – and will create displays and promotions to tempt them – the week won’t be any busier than a normal week in the middle of July. In fact, as we welcomed 15,425 liner passengers in the equivalent week in 2024, Games week is likely to be quieter for many of us businesses than last year.
The exception, I think, will be food providers like pubs, restaurants, cafes, food vans and takeaways. Although some of the competitors, judges and spectators will no doubt eat at their accommodation, or at venues, most will be hitting the streets looking for sustenance after the events finish. Some – though presumably not performance-focused sports people – will be looking for a drink too.
Some sessions end mid-afternoon or early evening, but many are much later. Badminton, for instance, is scheduled through the week to finish at 10pm, 10pm, 9pm, 7pm and 9pm. So shuttlecock-swipers and their supporters will be hitting the town long after the standard closing times of most eateries. Which presents a great opportunity for businesses who want to make their own mighty efforts by keeping their kitchens open late. A gold medal to all who do!
You can find out more about the games here: https://www.orkney2025.com/
This diary appeared in The Orcadian on 10th April 2025. A new diary appears weekly. I post them in this blog a few days after each newspaper appearance, with added illustrations, and occasional small corrections or additions.