TWO WEEK CLOSURE COULD SPELL THE END FOR PUBS
Old Swan Inn boss blasts ‘senseless’ shutdown
The future of Renfrewshire’s bars and restaurants are under threat, one Paisley pub boss has warned as new strict lockdown measures will see them close tomorrow for two weeks.
New tough restrictions will come into force tomorrow which will see pubs and restaurants close their doors until
October 25 in a bid to stem the spread of Covid-19.
The announcement by Nicola Sturgeon yesterday has been slammed by Jackie McCaig, who owns The Old Swan Inn in Smithhills Street.
She who says pubs cannot take much more financial strain.
She fears the new rules could signal the end for some as she herself has already reduced staff and taken on increasing debt in a bid to keep her long-standing pub afloat.
Jackie told the Express: “How are we supposed to come back from this?
“It’s just not good enough.
“Having to close just adds even more financial strain and worry.
“I have already had to reduce my staff. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take.
“This is threatening the existence of so many pubs.”
The First Minister announced the tough new restrictions yesterday afternoon following a surge in cases across the central belt.
Greater Glasgow - which includes Renfrewshire - was included in the five health board areas which were dealt the toughest restrictions.
Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley, and Lothian were also included.
Cafes and restaurants without an alcohol licence will be allowed to stay open until 6pm across the country.
Hotels and B&BS will also be able to stay open, but hotel bars will not be able to serve alcohol.
Ms Sturgeon also announced £40million of funding to help support bars and restaurants that have been impacted by the pandemic.
However Jackie, has slammed the Scottish Government’s treatment of the hospitality industry as “just not good enough”.
She claims other ways of spreading Covid-19 should be investigated and has accused government officials of using pubs as a “scapegoat”.
She added: “It’s good to know that the money will be there to support pubs, but we just don’t know what will make you eligible to get support and how it is all going to work. “There are so many questions.
“I could accept it if retail was included in this too, but it just feels like we are a scapegoat.
“There have been no cases of Covid-19 reported to have come from pubs in Renfrewshire in the 13 weeks we have been back open.
“But we are the ones to suffer again.
“The shops are mobbed and cases are being flagged up in schools in Renfrewshire every week.
“But it is pubs that are the problem?
“It makes no sense.”
This is threatening the existence of many pubs. Jackie McCaig