GLASGOW publicans are dismayed by new restrictions which some argue will further “victimise” the hospitality sector. 

David Brown, the co-owner of the Palais in Dennistoun, told how his staff had worked to ensure social distancing measures had been put in place in the East End pub. 

“Pubs are some of the safest places you can be right now."

“This is going to be incredibly tough for us and a 16-day lockdown is really intense. I’m really worried for the hospitality sector.”

He acknowledged the First Minister’s promise of support for hospitality workers -some of whom he said were jumping ship from the embattled sector - but noted that shutting pubs and restaurants hurts other businesses, like wholesalers, breweries and taxi firms.

Donald MacLeod owns the Garage and the Cathouse  nightclubs in the city centre, both of which have undergone renovation to allow them to open as bars. 

He blasted the Scottish government’s decision to close bars and restaurants and demanded to see the evidence which supported the move. 

Mr MacLeod said: “We are being forced to walk a path we didn’t want. It seems as if alcohol spreads the virus. Are we in prohibition now? Where is the evidence here that the virus spreads after ten o’clock at night, where is the evidence that hospitality should be getting blamed for the viral spread?”

A statement released on the Facebook page of the Louden Tavern in Ibrox said that while the bar’s bosses understood that “health has to come first”, they were devastated by the new restrictions. 

They added: “We know this hasn’t been a great time for a lot of our customers and remember, if you are feeling isolated or need some support, please reach out to us.”

Meanwhile, the Thornwood Bar in Partick wanted to roll its sleeves up and crack on with home deliveries. 

After Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement, the bar’s bosses said: “Total disregard of my Friday evening dinner plans here. Well, from 6pm Friday, you will only be able to see our pretty masked faces by ordering home delivery. You know the drill.”

Andy McCartney, the owner of Glaschu, described the measures as an “assault” on hospitality venues. 

He added: “The only thing these new restrictions will achieve is to push the public into the supermarkets to buy alcohol and encourage unregulated mixing of households and house parties.

“As the owners of an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and pubs, which includes a pub frequented by football fans, it appears to us that there’s a political element to the timing of these new restrictions with the Old Firm game approaching. Pubs, restaurants and bars have built-in regulations since long before Covid to manage the safe consumption of alcohol and our staff have the training to offer the safest environment to our guests.
Joe Crawford, the Scottish director of the Campaign for Real Ale called the announcement “devastating” for pubs and breweries. 

He said: “Publicans who have been operating at reduced rates, and who have already invested thousands of pounds of their dwindling reserves making their premises Covid-secure, now face 16 days without any turnover whatsoever.

“Understandably, they feel like pubs have become the scapegoat for the pandemic.”

Ms Sturgeon announced the measures in parliament yesterday, which included a ban on serving alcohol across Scotland and an order for pubs and restaurants across the Central Belt to close. 

Pubs and restaurants outside of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Ayrshire and Arran, Forth Valley, Lanarkshire and Lothian health boards will be forced to stop selling alcohol after midnight on Saturday, October 9 for 16 days.
Pubs and restaurants are to close completely for the same period. Unlicensed cafes can stay open.