'Don't play covid Russian roulette,' say Edinburgh bar owners warning of house party dangers

A group of Scotland’s most successful hospitality venues are pleading with customers not to flaunt the rules and go to house parties this weekend after evidence they are the cause of the biggest upsurge in covid-19 cases.

A pint in the pub

The Scottish Hospitality Group has warned that house parties are the main driver in the increasing covid-19 numbers, and that people should be limiting their contact with other households while making the most of hospitality venues.

The SHG are a group of Scotland’s most successful restaurant and bar operators, whose members collectively employ over 6,000 people across Scotland. Members include Billy Lowe, owner of Caledonia Inns and founder of Edinburgh’s Montpeiliers, Innes Bolt.

Launching in 1992, Montpeliers bar and restaurant, nightclub and hotel group has seven venues in Edinburgh employing just over 250 staff, turning over more than £15 million. Venues include Tigerlily, Rabble, Montpeliers, Indigo Yard, Eastside and Candy Bar.

While all of their venues reopened as restrictions eased, Eastside has already closed down again as a result of the 10pm curfew.

SHG spokesman, Stephen Montgomery, said: “Unlike in bars and restaurants, where there is track and trace, social distancing, PPE and strict hygiene rules, if you go to a house party this weekend, you’re just playing Covid Russian Roulette.

“We’re urging people to follow the official advice not to take the huge risk of socialising at home, and to do so safely in Scotland’s bars and restaurants, where they can be sure that all possible precautions have been taken to look after them properly."

This plea comes after the Scottish Government announced last week that hospitality venues would be forced to close at 10pm in a bid to try and control the spread of the virus.

When the 10pm curfew came into force last weekend, police broke up at least 300 house parties across Scotland making 14 arrests and issuing 101 penalties.

Elsewhere, Kenny Blair, founder of Buzzworks in Ayrshire said: “The clear feedback we are getting from many in our industry right across the country is that they are only just managing to stay afloat. If

we have further restrictions imposed or, God forbid, another lockdown, it will be Armageddon for a sector which employs more young Scots people than any other.”

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