Bars and restaurants stung by reopening confusion
●Frustrated owners criticise Sturgeon after she describes concerns as ‘myths’
Bars and restaurants have accused Nicola Sturgeon of creating “confusion and alarm” in the industry and leaving businesses “scared” for their futures over new Covid restrictions that come into force on Monday. The Scottish Hospitality Group also said it was“very disappointed” that the First Minister had described its members’ “genuine concerns” as “myths” when she announced rules on the reopening next week of pubs, restaurants and all non-essential retail. Ms Sturgeon said indoor hospitality will be allowed to reopen up to 8pm, though alcohol sales will remain outdoors-only until 17 May, and crossborder travel to England, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be allowed, with travellers now being asked to take two lateral flow c ovid tests before travelling to any of Scotland’ s island communities.
At the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing yesterday, the First
Minister hit out at “myths” around draft guidance that had been published for the hospitality industry. guidance was criticised by the Scottish Hospitality Group for suggesting an extension to physical distancing measures in pubs and restaurants. Spokesman Stephen Montgomery said it meant venues needed a 3.5 metre table for a group of six, adding “nobody has a table of that size” and that businesses were “becoming scared”.
But Ms Sturgeon said she expected households to stay at least one metre apart while in pubs or restaurants and that the physical distancing rule had not changed from last year’ s easing of restrictions and that claims to the contrary were “scaremongering”.
She added: “I would actually say that we should not have myths about the rules circulating because it doesn’t help anybody, least of all those in our hospitality sector.
“There is no change to the physical distancing requirements in our revised guidance for the reopening next week, compared to the guidance that was in place the last time pubs and restaurants and cafes were allowed to open.
“Anybody who says otherwise is misleading people.”
The only change to the guidance, she said, was that venues will have to display what their capacity limits are.
Scottish Hospitality Group spokesman stephen montgomery hit back last night, saying: “We’re reassured to hear that what premises did last year will still be acceptable this year.
“It’ s extremely frustrating that the government’s communications on this created confusion and alarm. It’s also very disappointing to have genuine concerns, expressed by anxious business owners, described as myths.
“Asforcross-bordertravel,we would welcome any customers from wherever in theuk so long as they are responsible and following precautions.”
Ms Sturgeon was also criticised by Scottish Conservative leader douglas ross for“undue caution” around lifting restrictions, which he claimed was “killing the economy and costing jobs”.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association said the draft guidthe
ance published previously had “caused a degree of unnecessary uncertainty”. The body said: “We welcome the clarity from the First Minister today that we will be able to open on the same basis as last year.
"Unfortunately, the publication of the Scottish Government’ s draft guidance on calculatingcapacity limits has caused a degree of unnecessary uncertainty and confusion for the hospitality industry. We look forward to that document being updated to reflect the concerns of our sector and small businesses across the country.”
Meanwhile Ukhospitality Scotland executive director wil li eM cleod welcomed“some real positives” in the announcement, but also criticised the “peculiar position” whereby hospitality was only able to sell alcohol indoors to those attendinga funeral or a wedding, label ling them“incongruities ”.
He said: “The increase in the number of guests allowed at weddings and funerals to 50, for example, is encouraging, but comes at the same time as indoor hospitality service has an 8pm curfew and a ban on sales of alcohol.
“This puts operators in the peculiar position of not being able to serve alcohol to customers indoors unless they are attending a wedding or a funeral, in which case they are allowed to do so until 10pm.
“The new requirement to display the capacity of premises based on physical distancing requirements will also place yet more burden son the hospitality trade, as will the social distancing rules between different households.
"The current legislation allows for six people from two households to meet indoors, or six people from up to six different households to meet outdoors, but they must maintain one metre distance from each other. This means far lower capacity for businesses already struggling after months of being closed and the unfair burden of enforcing social distancing has also been placed on long-suffering hospitality staff .”
Other restrictions which will be lifted on Monday include bans on driving lessons and tests, with non-essential childcare and indoor work permitted alongside the reopening of gyms and swimming pools for individual exercise.
The First Minister also set out further indicative dates for when Scotland would move through the ‘levels’ in the Scottish Government’s strategic framework, with a move to level one expected on June 7 and a move to level zero in late June.
Non-essential retail will also reopen from Monday as part of the change to restrictions, leading to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) of Scotland calling for the election campaign to now focus on getting local and independent retailers “back on their feet”.
Andrew Mcrae, the FSB’S Scotland policy chair, said: “These businesses are saddled with billions of pounds of debt and face ongoing restrictions, which will hamper their capacity to generate revenue. There’s a big difference between being legally allowed to open and being able to trade profitably”
Reacting to the announcement, Mr Ross said the SNP must end “confused messaging” around guidelines and to reopen more quickly.
He said: “While caution is important, leaving restrictions in force for longer than they are needed will only harm livelihoodsand our economy unnecessarily. undue caution is killing the economy and costing jobs.”