Edinburgh pubs say they are 'thrown under the bus' with the new restrictions

Hospitality business owners and staff have spoken out against the new Scottish Government restrictions that will force all pubs and restaurants to temporarily close from Friday.
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The new restrictions were announced in parliament on Wednesday by the First Minister, who said that these new measures are in place as a response to the rise in cases of coronavirus.

There will be no full lockdown as was rolled out in March, people will not be confined to their homes and schools will not be closed.

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The new restrictions will be in place from Friday at 6pm.The new restrictions will be in place from Friday at 6pm.
The new restrictions will be in place from Friday at 6pm.
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Edinburgh business owners in the hospitality industry have been speaking out about these new restrictions, with many uncertain of their future.

James Nisbet, whose pubs include The Kilderkin and Bennets Bar said: “We were already hurting with the 10pm closing and will need to have another round of redundancies as we have no hours to give to the staff.

"We were starting to open the bars a little later which was helping a lot, but now we are in the position where we are expected to pay more towards salaries, but have reduced opportunity to make any money.

“I feel ScotGov have now shown their true feelings towards the licensed trade.

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"Comments about it not being about the data and science, but about common sense are very frustrating.

“Where is your common sense when you allow a café to sell a burger and glass of coke, but the bar next door may not.”

The latest restrictions are local to the central belt of Scotland only, elsewhere in the country, pubs can stay open but are not allowed to sell alcohol indoors and have their hours limited.

James continued: I really feel we are being thrown under the bus for no good reason.

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"If you want to save lives do something that will help stop the spread of the virus.

"Picking on us may suit the Scottish Government agenda, but it will not help protect anyone.”

Grant McNeil, who owns the Green Mantle and The Mash Tun also spoke to the Edinburgh Evening News and said: “Hospitality is being used as a scape goat, the rise in cases have coincided with the schools and university's reopening.

"I've spent a fortune on making pubs Covid secure, training and extra staffing.

"£40 million is a drop in the ocean for the industry.

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"Where do I get 20% of the staff furlough from with zero income?

"We need substantial ongoing support from government and landlords or pubs will not reopen and staff will be made redundant.”

A member of bar staff in Edinburgh wrote to their local MP with concerns for their career as the new restrictions and said: “I am on a zero hours contract, as are all of my colleagues.

"My hours have been more than halved and the business is haemorrhaging money.

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"Pubs, bars and clubs are the lifeblood of the UK economy to an extent unparalleled in Europe.

"Leaving businesses to fail is a catastrophic foresight, and ultimately, does nothing to control the spread of COVID-19.”

The new rules will come into effect from 6pm on Friday, October 10 and will remain until Sunday October 25.

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