The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Make or break for pubs
Scotland’s hospitality sector is facing a “day of reckoning”, industry leaders warn as firms stop receiving government support in less than two weeks.
The Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) accused ministers of “needlessly cutting a financial lifeline”, before many businesses can fully reopen.
Venues such as cafes, pubs and restaurants can open again from April 26.
They will be able to serve customers indoors until 8pm but alcohol can only be sold in outside seating areas, open until 10pm.
Alcohol sales indoors are not expected until May 17.
Fewer than a quarter of premises in Scotland have outdoor areas, the SHG said, adding that operators had taken on average debt of £80,000 to survive.
The industry body added that firms would stop receiving help from the Scottish Government’s strategic framework business fund from April 19 – when they expect to get a one-off grant aimed at helping them reopen.
SHG spokesman Stephen Montgomery branded the proposals “senseless”.
He said: “A day of reckoning is coming for debt-strapped Scottish businesses and as politicians prioritise the electoral trail, they are needlessly cutting a financial lifeline.
“The only certainty the SHG can take from this roadmap is that our strategic grant support will be ended on April 19.
“Grants should be maintained until a business can return to trading normally.
“Scottish ministers cannot just wash their hands of the thousands of operators left stranded and unable to trade viably.
“These constraints are simply not feasible for most bars and the late-night
premises that will remain closed for weeks if not months, and we are calling for a workable solution.”
He demanded the Government “appoint a senior representative with a business background who is capable of grasping the unique challenges facing the sector such as the level of complexity and scale of our industry and the punitive restrictions forced on us”.
Nic Wood of the Signature Pub Group said
he fears many smaller businesses may not survive.
“As one of Scotland’s independent operators, we have 21 premises with only seven able to open on April 26, leaving 300 of my staff reliant on furlough.
“It’s just terrifying that the Scottish Government believes you can trade as a pub, viably and supporting jobs, while not being allowed to sell alcohol.
“But these limitations are endless for smaller, citycentre bars, late-night
premises, nightclubs, entertainment and livemusic venues that, now starved of financial support, just won’t make it through the next couple of months.”
Asked about ending the strategic framework business fund, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was a “mischaracterisation” to say support is being “pulled”.
She said a reopening grant would be paid in response to feedback.