Despite generating countless headlines and setting the news agenda in Scotland numerous times by criticising Covid rules for the hospitality sector, there is little information on the Scottish Hospitality Group in the public domain.
It doesn't have a website and, other than coverage of its campaigns, there isn't much information on the group available publicly.
So what exactly is the Scottish Hospitality Group, what are its aims and who runs it?
The Scottish Hospitality Group
Scottish Hospitality Group was set up in August 2020, and consists of operators such as the DRG Group, Buzzwork Holdings, Signature Pubs, Montpeliers, Manorview Group, Lisini Pub Co, Caledonia Inns, G1 Group, Siberia Bar & Hotel, and Mor-Rioghain Group.
Together, the companies employ around 4000 people across Scotland.
Stephen Montgomery, its spokesperson, is credited with running its day-to-day operations along with a small steering group.
The group has been a thorn in the Government’s side since it started up. Its warnings on the financial impact of restrictions on the hospitality sector have regularly made the headlines.
A Google search for the group and Montgomery’s name brings up more than 500 news results. Its press releases and comments have generated 1600 pieces of coverage in the media, by one estimate.
The group has criticised a number of policies such as vaccine passports, the length of self-isolation, and restrictions on opening hours.
Media for the Scottish Hospitality Group is handled by the BIG Partnership, based in Glasgow. The group also boasts Loganair, Drum Property, popular restaurants and venues among its clients. Former SNP aide Paul Robertson was appointed as the firm’s head of public affairs in November 2021.
A profile in the trade website DRAM Scotland described the origins of the Scottish Hospitality Group as being born from a small WhatsApp group, set up by the editor of the website and Kenny Blair of Buzzworks Holdings, which owns a number of restaurants across Scotland.
The profile says Montgomery is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Scottish Hospitality Group. In its short life, the group has been involved in the Tourism Taskforce Recovery Group, informed questions asked in Holyrood and at the First Minister’s Covid briefings and given evidence to the Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee.
It has also campaigned on tackling rogue traders, VAT increases, rates relief, and the removal of the Scottish music ban.
In a statement to The National, Montgomery said: "Since forming the Scottish Hospitality Group during the first lockdown our overriding aim has been to be to work with anyone that will help protect Scotland’s hospitality industry, regardless of their politics.
"Everyone recognises that hospitality is one of the worst affected sectors hit by Covid restrictions and we make no apology for trying to support businesses and to safeguard the thousands of Scottish jobs that they provide.”
Stephen Montgomery
Stephen Montgomery, 52, is the owner of the Townhead Hotel in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire.
Meeting with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on Monday, Montgomery said the shutdown of hospitality firms over Christmas in response to the Omicron variant had “crippled the sector”.
Describing the decision as “probably the hardest of the restrictions we faced”, Montgomery said the Christmas restrictions were estimated to have cost the hospitality sector in Scotland more than £1 billion and he now expects it to be between three and five years before the industry fully recovers.
In an interview with the Scottish Daily Express in December 2021, Montgomery said he had been on the receiving end of “vile hatred” online because of his criticism of lockdown rules.
He said: “We've had emails come through and messages on Facebook calling me Tory scum and this, that and the other.
“They can give me a hard time all they want, I'm not walking away from the trade and the sector that I'm passionate about but it's difficult when it starts to get to your staff and your family."
In the same interview, Montgomery, originally from Northern Ireland, said Scotland under Sturgeon reminded him of the Troubles “without the violence”.
He told the paper: “Scotland is starting to feel as though it is the same as Northern Ireland without the killings, it feels like I'm back in Northern Ireland when you are not allowed to have a voice in society or express an opinion without people making you feel demoralised.
“It reminds me of the hatred in Northern Ireland without the violence.”
Posts on both the Townhead Hotel's Facebook and Twitter compared Nicola Sturgeon to Adolf Hitler in 2016. Both were quickly deleted and Montgomery said his accounts were hacked.
He told DNG24 his staff had received threats as a result of the tweets and feared the incident could hurt his business.
He is friends with both the former Scottish Secretary David Mundell and his son, the Tory MSP Oliver Mundell.
He was also photographed with Scottish Government minister Angus Robertson as part of a push to boost hiring within the hospitality sector.
The group said it will “speak to anyone and everyone to seek support for the sector”.
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