Industry boss fears last orders for Scottish bars

Hospitality representative bodies expressed dismay at the f irst m in ister ’s announcement, warning she had signed “a death sentence” for many in the trade.

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) described the measures as “cataclysmic” and warned of hundreds of business closures and thousands of job losses.

Colin Wilkinson, SLTA managing director, said: “Our research already tells us that many in the industry are on the precipice of business failure, and these further restriction measures announced today, and the much quieter winter season approaching leads us to only one conclusion – the sector is now heading into a scenario of ‘ last man standing’.

He said members would await details of the first minster’s announcement of a £40 million financial support package but he questioned if it would be enough.

“In our opinion, the hospitality sector in general needs substantially greater and more far- reaching support than has just been announced, and does not come anywhere near to saving our industry,” he said.

Mr Wilkinson said the industry was calling on the government to provide the evidence for infection rates stemming directly from the licensed trade.

“Industry figures suggest that there are very low infection rates of staff within our pubs and bars which suggests to us that the industry is doing everything that it can and is providing as safe an environment as possible – otherwise, if we were a major causal route of infection, this would surely be reflected in the infection rate of hospitality staff,” he added.

Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group, said the first minister had “signed a death sentence for many businesses across the Scott ish hosp ita l ity industry, while the real problem is socialising at home”.

He forecast the economic cost will be “catastrophic” for an industr y worth £10 .6 billion to the Scottish economy annually, which employs 285,000 people.

Andrew McRae, policy cha i rman fo r the Fe d e r a t i o n of Small Businesses (FSB) in Scotland, said: “Without sufficient support from government, today’s moves could mean last orders for many independent pubs and restaurants.”