Glasgow nightclub bosses slam Covid guidance on reopening as 'shambolic' and 'farcical'

Industry bosses are calling on the Scottish Government to provide urgent clarification after being given the go-ahead to reopen in only four days' time. 

The announcement was made by the First Minister yesterday afternoon, however, confusion has emerged over a ban on vertical drinking and the mandatory use of facemasks.

Donald MacLeod, owner of the Cathouse and Garage

Donald MacLeod, who runs the Cathouse and Garage clubs, said: “I am just half-emptied with this news. I’m further defeated with the Deputy First Minister's news that he is expecting a ban on vertical drinking."

Earlier this afternoon, Deputy First Minister John Swinney was asked if vertical drinking - meaning standing up to consume alcohol - would go ahead inside nightclubs or if customers would have to sit at tables. 

He told the BBC: "What we're saying is that people can quite easily go out for a drink, they can go out for a meal, they can sit at tables, but some of the things that have been a hallmark of hospitality venues in the past of vast gatherings of people around a bar standing up may not be a good idea.

"I don't think it's absolutely necessary for people to crowd around a bar to do vertical drinking. That's not necessary."

Deputy First Minister John Swinney (Image: PA)

The Scottish Hospitality Group has since announced that vertical drinking will be allowed to go ahead while the group joined in on calls for the Scottish Government to provide clarification to industry bosses. 

A statement reads: "There will be NO restriction on vertical drinking ref to masks. If you are standing you can take your mask off to drink/consume.

"This morning's comments from John Swinney on BBC Good Morning Scotland were inaccurate and needs to be clarified now by the Scottish Government."

The confusion follows uncertainty over face coverings in nightclubs, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon admitting that the measures would "make no sense" inside the nighttime venues. 

Answering questions after her statement to MSPs yesterday afternoon, she said: "Even if a nightclub was technically allowed to open, it would make it really impractical.

Meanwhile, Mr MacLeod - who has run evening venues in the city for 30 years - described facemask measures inside clubs as "dangerous". 

He said: “Mask wearing is dangerous in nightclubs because first of all, breathing becomes restricted and if a customer is drunk then that automatically becomes a health hazard.

“Then, you can’t see if they are anxious or if they are annoyed – their face is covered so you can’t see their emotions or their facial expressions. It covers them up.

The confusion has paused plans on reopening some of the city's most legendary venues in time for 'Freedom Day' due to the broken guidance. 

Mr MacLeod added: “These rules and chatter of no vertical drinking is putting people off and gives them fear about coming out again.

“The whole idea of a ban on vertical drinking is so different to the environment of nightclubbing – these politicians are living in a different world.

“Standing up at gigs and at nightclubs is the whole point of going out nightclubbing – to stand up and to dance. It is part of the whole experience – it isn’t sitting down at the opera or at the ballet.

“Everything is all over the place, it is shambolic. My question is, have they thought this through properly?”

Michael Grieve, owner of Sub Club

And prior to yesterday's announcement, the Night Time Industry Association for Scotland had been pressing the Scottish Government to provide guidance on clubs reopening. 

Mike Grieve, Chairman of the group and owner of Glasgow's Sub Club, said: "The announcement by the First Minister that nightclubs could reopen from August 9 is obviously very welcome news but there is massive confusion around the continued mandate of wearing masks and how that is to be applied.

"John Swinney said this morning on BBC Radio that vertical drinking rather than seated drinking without masks wasn’t part of the relaxation of the regulations.

"This has apparently now been contradicted by the Scottish Government, so despite asking for clarity on this issue since July 13 - when the First Minister announced that August 9 would see restrictions lifted - we still don’t know what is or isn’t allowed from Monday onwards.

"Planning a reopening in this time frame is near impossible and we also have grave concerns about the impact on a range of health and safety issues arising from enforced mask-wearing in nightclubs.

"The whole situation is farcical."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The First Minister’s statement to parliament yesterday on the move to beyond level 0 represents a significant step towards greater normality. However, the virus has not disappeared and we all have a responsibility to take sensible precautions to help protect ourselves and each other.

“We are encouraging the hospitality sector to consider retaining safety measures that are currently in place to help protect the public and staff. While wearing of face masks is not required while eating or drinking (whether seated or standing), in order to avoid crowding in hospitality venues it may be sensible to keep measures such as table service or operate a queuing system.

“We are currently engaging with the nightclub sector on guidance to ensure they can safely reopen on 9 August.  It is due to be published in the coming days.”