Warning that 23,600 jobs in bars could be lost thanks to distance rule

● Two-metre regulations will cost more than keeping doors shut, operators say

Pubs across the north and northeast say opening under the two-metre distancing rule will cost them more than staying shut. The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has warned more than 23,600 jobs could be on the line if guidelines are not re-examined in time for the provisional reopening of premises on July 15.

A new survey, which covered more than 300 pubs, found it would not be financially viable for almost 90% of landlords to reopen their doors if the two-metre distancing guidelines remain in place.

Industry leaders have called on the Scottish Government to fall in line with the World Health Organisation’s guidance and reduce the limit to one metre to “kick-start the industry and save jobs in the hospitality sector”.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the SBPA, said the results make for “stark reading” and warned of looming “mass unemployment”.

“Not only will 87% of those surveyed be unable to open, those that can trade at the two-metre mark will potentially have to let 52% of staff go,” Ms McClarkin said.

“This would lead to more than 23,600 job losses in our sector alone.

“Keeping a two-metre rule in place simply does not make financial sense and the fall-out will see the loss of thousands of jobs affecting the Scottish economy and local communities in the process.”

Tony Cochrane, who runs Club

Tropicana in Aberdeen along with other venues nationwide, warned businesses face a “big turning point” in the coming weeks.

He said it would be “impossible” to open any of his pubs and clubs with two-metre social distancing in place and confirmed the venues will remain closed.

“Two metres is just impractical because your rent is the same, the staffing costs are the same.

“You may even need to put extra staff on because you have to monitor toilets and make sure people stick to the rules. It just wouldn’t be practical to operate.”

Mr Cochrane said a reduction to one metre would make a “huge difference” for his business and some operators may face a decision “in the next few weeks” over whether to roll out staff redundancies.

Gavin Stevenson, from Gellions in Inverness, said the business would lose more money by opening under the twometre rule than staying closed.

“With two-metre social distancing, our nearly 200-capacity venue reduces to just 11 people,” he said.

“In a normal year our profit margin is less than five per cent of turnover and obviously there is no way for us to get even close to financial breakeven with such huge reductions in trade.”

Stuart McPhee from Siberia Bar and Hotel in Aberdeen said the restrictions would mean cutting the number of kitchen staff on each shift by two-thirds, while the number of people behind the bar would need to be halved to two.

“Regardless of how many people you can fit outside or inside customer-wise, there is a direct impact on what kind of service our staffing levels can achieve,” he said.

“Where we will try to maintain our staff by diversifying our service style and rotating in teams post-Covid, it is clear that tough operational choices lie ahead.”

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she too is “frustrated” by the restrictions put on businesses but insisted they are necessary.

Speaking at her daily briefing in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said: “If you’re frustrated about two-metre distancing in a workplace, all I would say to address that is, I’m frustrated too. I don’t want to live like that.

“But we still need to have restrictions in place and exercise a degree of caution.

“That I’m worried enough about the implications of not doing that should tell you it’s necessary.

“The government will not keep restrictions in place any longer than necessary but this is a serious, serious virus and we cannot be complacent about the impact of that when we still have so much to learn.”

“Keepingatwometre rule in place simply does not make financial sense”