03 June 2009, 12:49 PM
  • Trading from a Grade III listed building without air conditioning, Greg Anderson, owner of Box of Delights cafe and deli in Glasgow, is working hard to keep custom up and temperatures down.

“For the sake of only twenty days of sun or so a year, the local authorities are, understandably, a little reluctant to give us planning permission for an air conditioning vent,” explains Mr Anderson.

Loyal custom is not being put-off by the heat, but Mr Anderson is concerned that new customers might be.

“Our regulars will always visit us, but on a week like this one, when it’s been incredibly hot, walk-in custom could go elsewhere. To tackle the temperatures, we’ve got lots of fans but they don’t solve the problem, they just help to alleviate it,” he says.

Identifying a slither of a silver lining, Mr Anderson acknowledges – albeit slightly wryly - that the situation does at least reaffirm the deli’s focus.

“We can’t do anything about the heat, but we can do our utmost to make sure our customers are as comfortable as possible,” he says. “Ultimately we just have to get on with it. Our customers are the priority and times like this just serve as a big reminder!” he concludes.