Lanarkshire bar owner refuses to ask for vaccine passport this weekend

People going to a late night venue with a dancefloor are required to prove they've had both coronavirus jags.

Author: Callum McQuadePublished 23rd Oct 2021

A Lanarkshire bar owner claims he won't be asking customers to show their vaccine passport this weekend, despite the law change on Monday.

Martin Black runs the Central Bar in Larkhall which has a small dancefloor and is telling Clyde 1 it will cost him too much money.

He said: "We would have to have door staff starting much earlier than 12 o'clock to allow us to prevent anyone new from coming in who doesn't have a vaccine passport.

"However, they would also have to eject anyone who didn't have one.

"I would need five additional staff for four hours of work and they would need to be trained to the highest standard.

"It would cost me an extra £400 or £500 every Saturday night."

A rule change on Monday means it is now compulsory for late night venues to ask customers to prove they have had both coronavirus vaccines.

This includes premises which are open between 12am and 5am, serve alcohol and have a dancefloor.

Martin says the Central Bar will be open until 1am on Sunday morning and customers will be welcome regardless of whether they can prove their vaccination status or not.

He added: "I do not see how it becomes relevant at 12 o'clock when it wasn't relevant five minutes before just for an extra hour of drinking.

"I am slightly nervous about what I am doing, but I do not believe this rule is a fair one."

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