BAR TZAR SOS
Call for a scheme like in Manchester and London
Pub leaders are demanding hospitality and late-night industry champions for Scotland’s biggest cities to help rebuild the sector after the lockdowns.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) wants to replicate schemes in London and Manchester where high- profile “night tzars” have been appointed.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan hired TV presenter Amy Lamé, while Manchester mayor Andy Burnham gave the job to festivals entrepreneur Sacha Lord.
The SBPA want s simi lar appointments in Glasgow and Edinburgh along with a range of measures to support bars, restaurants and breweries.
Also among demands are an energy price cap for venues and the postponement of the Scottish Government’s low emission zone (LEZ) and workplace parking levy (WPL) plans, which they fear will keep people away from city centres.
SBPA president Andrew Lawrence said: “Scotland’s beer and pub industry supports 62,000 jobs and contributes £1.75billion to the national economy every year.
“The restrictions placed on our members during the pandemic had a severe impact.
“We fully understood the need to keep people safe but now, as we come out of the pandemic, there must be a path to recovery.
“Appointing industry champions to stick up for the industry, to help local and national government understand the challenges we face and what is needed to build back… would be a great start.
“Our survival and subsequent recovery is dependent on the support of national and local policymakers.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s cautious approach to social distancing during the pandemic had a devastating impact on the hospitality industry.
When the Omicron variant emerged in December, people were urged to cancel work Christmas parties, resulting in a £1billion economic hit. The hospitality sector employs more than 100,000 people directly north of the border and thousands more indirectly.
Total employment levels are well below pre-pandemic levels. Many bars and restaurants have reduced opening hour s whi le o thers shut completely.
Suppo r t measures demanded by the SBPA also include the abolition of fees and planning restrictions for outdoor seating. It also wants a two- year moratorium on policies that could create additional costs for pubs and bars. The SBPA fears environmental policies due to come into force in coming years will severely reduce footfall in cities. The Scottish Government’s LEZs wi l l see charges for non-compliant polluting cars in town centres. Proposed workplace parking fee rules will allow local authorities to charge firms for car parking spaces.
Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie said: “Edinburgh and Glasgow are famous for their nightl ife so fol lowing London and Manchester could help to drive this forward and make su re the s e industries are heard.”