Inverness pub boss leads call for Scottish Government to give 'pound for pound' support to night time sector

The operator of one of the oldest pubs in Inverness, the Gellions on Bridge Street, has raised concern about the future of the hospitality sector and called for support from the Scottish Government to safeguard businesses and jobs.

Gavin Stevenson, director of the Mor-Rioghain Group which owns the Gellions, which dates back to the 1840s and is one of the north's busiest live music venues, issued the warning in his role as vice-chairman of industry group Night Time Industries Association Scotland (NITA).

Mr Stevenson warned that Public Health Scotland and the Scottish government have created an immediate crisis across the hospitality sector and late night economy by encouraging the public to put their Christmas celebrations on hold.

NITA estimates that as a direct result of the PHS statement last Thursday, and the First Minister’s statement on Friday, the sector is set to face over £1 billion of additional economic damage in December alone, and has issued a statement warning it is "both morally and economically untenable" for the costs of this new policy to be borne by Scotland’s small businesses without any additional government support.

Mr Stevenson said: "It is now clear Scottish Government have left the sector Open In Name Only – technically open but telling our customers not to come, just as Boris Johnson did back in March 2020.

’Our sector has now seen a critical decline in festive season trade, resulting in a threat to the very survival of Scottish small businesses and 100,000 jobs. If the new Omicron variant threatens the NHS then of course our sector will again step up and play our part – but government must also now step up and commit to ensuring business survival with immediate financial support that replaces lost festive season income on a pound for pound basis to protect jobs and businesses."

NITA members are reporting cancellations and reduced attendance to such a degree that many are questioning whether they can now keep trading, the group stated.

Weekend footfall is down 30 per cent on average since last Thursday, with 50 per cent or greater declines being seen as likely over the coming days as the bulk of cancellations kick in.

Knock-on effects are being felt across the supply chain and staff hours and supplier orders are being cut. Musicians, technicians and DJs are also being affected as performances are scrapped and contracts terminated.

NITA also warned that millions of pounds of fresh food stock is going to waste as reservations are cancelled and customers cancel or fail to show up.

The group also warns that Scottish businesses have been hit twice as hard as their counterparts, suffering twice the reduction in turnover, and also carrying over twice the debt burden, as a direct result of Scotland's tougher and longer restrictions over the last 18 months.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.