Cafe or restaurant? Confusion for central belt owners as closure looms
From 6pm today pubs, bars and restaurants in large parts of Scotland must shut their doors for the next 16 days
Last updated 9th Oct 2020
There's confusion about restrictions on the hospitality industry just hours before they're due to be enforced.
A two-week shutdown of pubs and restaurants across the Central Belt is due to start at six o clock tonight
Licensed cafes can remain open as long as they don't serve alcohol - but it will be up to local authorities to decide whether a business is a cafe or a restaurant.
Danielle Fleming runs four venues in Glasgow including Barca Tapas and the Cranachan in Princes Square.
"There is no difference, we hold the same premise licence for all four our venues in the way that's described in our operating plan.
"I'm quite confused because all four venues could actually trade but not serve alcohol, although it wouldn't be on the same basis.
"We wouldn't be able to that across the board as restaurants."
Licensing expert Stephen McGowan says the guidance for authorities to determine the difference between a café and a restaurant could cause chaos.
"This is a mess and is an unenviable position for both the trade and the officers who will have to enforce it and will create a huge variance in interpretation with winners and losers," he said.
Paul Waterson from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association fears two thirds of premises in Scotland could close due to the restrictions.
"A recent poll we did showed 90% of premises were down, but worryingly about 38% said they were down more than 50%, which is their profit margin," he said.
"So they really aren't viable. With the new restrictions, the effect is really catastrophic on our businesses. "
But there is some hope for the industry this morning with reports the Chancellor will launch a local furlough scheme for areas where businesses have to shut.
The Scottish Government has already announced a £40m scheme to support hospitality firms through the latest measures.
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