Ayrshire business owner claims hospitality is 'scapegoat' in new Covid restrictions
Kenny Blair says businesses should be working with the government on the guidance for pubs and restaurants
The hospitality sector is being made a “scapegoat” in measures to tackle the rise in coronavirus cases, according to an Ayrshire business owner.
Kenny Blair, manager of Buzzworks Holdings, has 12 venues across Ayrshire and other parts of central Scotland and is having to close all but one of them for 16 days from Friday due to the new restrictions.
Pubs and other licensed premises in five health board areas, including Ayrshire and Arran, have to shut to all but takeaway customers over that period, however Mr Blair said only one of his venues, Lido in Troon, will be financially viable if operating on that basis.
Mr Blair, who employs around 500 people, estimates he will lose £1 million in revenue over the 16 days and he has concerns for the future if the restrictions are extended.
He told Clyde 1 News: “This is only going to accelerate decisions on redundancies, and hamper the ability of hospitality to bounce back once this is all over.
“We would like to work with the government and help be part of the solution to this problem. I fear if we don’t provide people with safe places to socialise they will find other places to socialise, and that will only lead to more issues.”
Mr Blair said more than 300,000 people have visited his venues since they reopened in the summer and only two customers have tested positive for the virus, with no onward transmission or outbreaks within the business.
Mr Blair, whose venues include Vic's and The Vine, both in Prestwick, said: “We would like to see tougher enforcement on businesses that aren’t applying the guidance. I would ask that scientists and politicians come and visit well-run hospitality venues to see what we’ve got in place.”
Outside the five central belt health board areas, pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes across Scotland can open indoors between 6am and 6pm to sell food and soft drinks only, and can sell alcohol in outside areas until 10pm.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has promised a £40 million package of support for the hospitality sector but warned that without the new restrictions, there is a risk the virus will be out of control by the end of this month.
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