SNP MP’s comedy club nets £250k
An SNP MP’s comedy club firm has landed the biggest cash windfall from a Covid fund for struggling arts groups and venues.
The £250,000 was given to Tommy Sheppard’s Salt ’n’ Sauce Promotions Ltd (The Stand) from the Scottish Government’s £15million Culture Organisations and Venue Recovery Fund.
Only three out of 203 applicants for funds got the maximum £250,000 payout.
The Barrowlands and Glasgow bar Oran Mor also received the maximum.
But there has been criticism over why the MP’s business – which has sites in Glasgow and Edinburgh – was given so much when some venues missed out altogether.
Creative Scotland, which administered the handouts, said adult entertainment venues like strip clubs could not apply.
Licensing lawyer Janet Hood, of Janet Hood Training & Consulting Ltd, which represents some of the venues, said the legal businesses were no less worthy than pubs.
She said: “In our opinion – legally, culturally and morally – there is no difference between a strip club and a pub who has a DJ playing in the corner of the room.
“Eyebrows have been raised over how much Tommy Sheppard’s business has got.”
A Creative Scotland spokesman said: “The Scottish Government has advised they do not consider adult entertainment venues to fall within the general functions of Creative Scotland.”
A Stand spokesman said Sheppard “fought hard” to get comedy included in the funding. He added: “Any queries about our award should be put to Creative Scotland.”