In the ongoing saga of Scotland’s hospitality sector, the recent news that Scotland’s pubs and bars are closing at twice the rate of those in England comes as another gut punch, despite the seemingly busier nightlife as the festive season kicks into high gear.
Researchers paint a grim picture – 1.7 per cent of all Scottish outlets shut in the first nine months of this year – equivalent to two pubs per week – compared with 0.8 per cent in England and 1.4 per cent in Wales. It’s a stark reality, painting a sombre picture of an industry still grappling with turmoil.
In a bid to tackle the issue, the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) and the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) have joined forces to call on the Scottish Government to pass on funding for the sector, urging them to throw a lifeline to our drowning pubs.
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement has helped to support English businesses by introducing a 75 per cent rate reduction for the financial year 2024–25. Meanwhile, north of the border, the silence from Holyrood echoes louder than the festive cheer in our disintegrating pubs and clubs.
Last year’s failure to pass on rates relief proved catastrophic for Scottish hospitality, and the casualty count is rising faster than the tempo of a Ceilidh band. Urgent action is needed, and the trade associations are demanding just that. They’re not asking for a miracle, just a fighting chance for our beleaguered hospitality economy. A submission sent to Scottish ministers asks for the 75 per cent non-domestic rates relief in England to be implemented in Scotland along with further freezes to the business poundage rate.
Aside from this, another potential helping hand has emerged via Glasgow City Council’s new “Choose Public Transport” initiative. The scheme involves all public transport operators over the city running for 24 hours a day in a bid to provide flexibility for people celebrating into the small hours and to ensure safety for hospitality workers.
While immediate improvements in public transit might be doubtful, making the city easier to navigate could potentially breathe life back into Glasgow’s nightlife. It might not be a cure-all for the economic struggles our pubs are facing, but in the grand tapestry of the hospitality sector’s recovery, every thread counts.
As I’ve already discussed previously, in the aftermath of Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ), the city’s businesses have been left battered. The LEZ’s impact on businesses, particularly in Glasgow City Centre, has been tumultuous. But in these turbulent waters, the prospect of smoother public transit leading to increased foot traffic for pubs is a silver lining.
However, success hinges on factors beyond a mere preference for public transport. Does Glasgow have the robust infrastructure to support this transition? The theoretical charm of pushing folks toward buses and trains is undeniable, but Glasgow’s current transport system might not be primed for this mass transition.
Safety is paramount, especially during the high spirits of the season, demanding an increased focus on the wellbeing of those revisiting the city’s nightlife. This becomes even more critical considering the recent chaos at the Edinburgh Christmas Markets, showcasing the need for effective crowd management and safety measures.
While LEZ continues to cast a shadow, the “Choose Public Transport” initiative offers hope for pubs and bars. Before the pandemic, Glasgow’s festive season buzzed with lively pubs and streets filled with the vibrant sounds of celebration, marking a time when the hospitality sector thrived.
As Scotland faces a triple whammy – pubs closing, the LEZ aftermath, and businesses fighting for survival – it’s a critical moment for business leaders, policymakers, and citizens to unite and call for action.
Navigating this perfect storm demands strategic thinking, financial foresight, and an infrastructure overhaul. The road ahead is uncertain, but in the spirit of Glasgow, let’s face it head-on, ready to adapt, evolve, and carve a more positive path forward.
The resilience of our city and its people remain the bedrock upon which we’ll rebuild and revitalise the hospitality sector’s vibrant spirit.
Market mayhem mars Christmas cheer
Naturally, the Christmas period is a mad, hectic dash for most of us. Everything from organising the work’s Christmas festivities to the potential onslaught of bad traffic in ice cold flurries just gives this jolly time of year a pinch of anxiety.
The crowds descending on our high streets may be a major boost to the economy but sometimes it’s all a tad chaotic – especially when you include that added surge from the now annual arrival of the Bavarian cabin aesthetic and sounds of mulled wine dosed merriment of the Christmas Markets.
Whether it’s Glasgow’s George Square or Edinburgh’s iconic Princes Street Gardens offering, these markets are a huge calendar mark for thousands of Christmas shoppers, both near and far, looking to get in touch with the festive spirit, as well as tons of Christmas cracking deals and gifts.
However, a recent viral video of the seasonal savagery that took place a few weekends ago at the Edinburgh Christmas Markets has headlined a barrage of complaints of customers being ‘herded like cattle’ and queues of people reaching the triple digits, bringing the crowd and the Christmas cheer to a standstill.
The key gift a business can get is a happy customer but due to this pandemonium, it’s likely that most visitors will walk away with a bitter taste of the experience, not helped by the fact that overcrowding means even the stalls may struggle to make a sale too.
Here’s hoping that the event organisers think even more carefully about capacity for these events, working efficiently and planning how to host markets of this scale, complete with routes so people can shop safely and be on their merry way as happy shoppers.
It Made Me Laugh
Simpsons did it
Despite 35 seasons and well over 30 years of adventures to every corner of the globe (and even outer space), it was actually a major shock to me to hear that 90’s TV sensations The Simpsons had never up until recently paid a visit to our very own Auld Reekie.
That all recently changed as the family paid a visit to Edinburgh and the surrounding areas in an episode which featured the Royal Mile and even the Fringe festival.
It was pleasant to see a well-animated adaptation of our lovely capital that broke mostly away from the easy jokes. Although, it didn’t half make me chuckle hearing Scots rightly point out that Homer and Marge may need more than a few minutes to walk from Arthur’s Seat to St Andrew’s.
It Made Me Weep
Final chapter for iconic book business
The closure of a family-owned business is always something that breaks my heart, so I was dismayed upon hearing that a St Andrew’s bookstore of 144 years is facing its final chapter this month.
The historic J&G Innes is set to close its doors ahead of Hogmanay on December 31st this year as current owner Jude Innes, the great, great granddaughter of the original founder of store, is set to retire.
After standing tall and inspiring generations of readers in the town for almost a century and a half, it’s always sad to see any story of this length come to an end.
