ST PATRICK’S is normally one of the busiest days of the year for Scotland’s pubs and clubs, with revellers heading out for an annual holiday that these days has more to do with Guinness than snakes being chased out of Ireland.
But last night bars across the country were far, far quieter than they normally are on March 17.
Boris Johnson’s advice to “avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues” in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus has left publicans and the tens of thousands the future looking bleak for workers in Scotland’s hospitality sector and night time industry.
READ MORE: Pub industry ‘could be lost within days without Government action’
Colin Wilkinson of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association told The National that it wouldn’t just be the small, independent pubs who could go under, but some of the bigger high-street names too.
“It’s unprecedented for everybody,” he said.
“Some of our members are living week to week, some are month to month. So if they’re closed for any lengthy period, will they survive? I think we might see a completely different industry unless we get the support we need.
“I think some household names could go under as well.”
James Withers, the chief executive of Scotland Food and Drink, accused the UK Government of “effectively” closing restaurants.
He said: “I completely appreciate that public health must be the over-riding priority. Nothing is more important.
“However, the UK Government must now deliver a level of emergency business support, the scale of which we haven’t seen before.
“That is essential to protect thousands of jobs and ensure we still have Scotland’s and the UK’s critical business infrastructure after the outbreak has passed.”
He added: “This public health crisis has become an economic and jobs crisis.
“Food and drink is a £15 billion industry in Scotland, employing 120,000 people, stretching from rural communities to our cities.”
Labour MP Ian Murray has urged UK ministers to ensure the pubs, clubs and restaurants do not miss out on insurance payments if they have to close.
The Edinburgh South MP, who used to run pubs before being elected to Parliament, has written to Business Secretary Alok Sharma to outline his concerns.
Because the Government has not ordered pubs, restaurants and other businesses to close, Murray fears they will be unable to access insurance payouts
He added: “I am therefore calling on the UK Government to do the right thing by Britain’s small business owners and formally order the closure of pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants to ensure they can make a compensation claim from their insurance supplier.”
But in a statement, the Association of British Insurers claimed that “the vast majority of firms won’t have purchased cover that will enable them to claim on their insurance to compensate for their business being closed by coronavirus”.
The trade body claimed standard business interruption cover – the type the majority of businesses purchase – “does not include forced closure by the authorities”.
However, yesterday evening, unveiling his financial package to help companies cope with the chaos, Chancellor Rishi Sunak insisted that the Government’s action would mean those “businesses which do have a policy for insurance that covers pandemics” is “sufficient and will allow businesses to make an insurance claim against their policy”.
The Chancellor also said he was extending the business rates holiday to all businesses in the hospitality sector and funding grants of up to £25,000 for smaller businesses.
The Government also announced plans to change planning permission so that pubs and restaurants will be able to turn into takeaways or delivery straight away.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson’s own father ignored the Government’s advice on how to avoid coronavirus by saying he may go to the pub. Stanley Johnson told Phillip Schofield: “If I had to go to a pub I’d go to a pub.”
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