Club bosses have accused John Swinney of delivering a “nightmare before Christmas” after he ordered venues to shut down for at least three weeks yesterday.
The Deputy First Minister announced an amendment to coronavirus regulations which is likely to force the closure of around 150 nightclubs across the country from December 27.
Venues have been given the opportunity to remain open under restrictions previously announced for the hospitality industry to prevent the spread of Omicron.
But many say operating under the rules is not viable and they have no choice but to shut their doors and accept a financial support package - which is yet to be unveiled.
Donald MacLeod, who runs Glasgow’s Garage and Cathouse nightclubs, described the announcement as “gut wrenching” and said thousands and staff and business owners had been filled with “fear and trepidation” over the future of their livelihoods just two days before Christmas.
He said: “John Swinney has brought the nightmare before Christmas.
“One the day that incontrovertible evidence comes through that Omicron is a mild virus, he announces the closure of nightclubs.
“What was all this palaver of getting a vaccine passport and lateral flow testing for?
“I really think he’s treated us contemptuously.
“I have been accused of being wealth over health but what I have been concerned about since the start of this pandemic is my staff, my suppliers and the freelancers who work in my industry to try and protect them and their livelihoods.
“In one fell swoop, John Swinney, the Grinch of Christmas, has delivered this news two days before, filling them with fear and trepidation again over their jobs.”
Donald said clubs now needed urgent clarity over when and how financial support would be delivered.
He said: “We’ve had to make the regrettable decision to close but we’ve still not received any news of funding or been told where it’s coming from.
“Our organisation might be able to withstand that pressure, I hope we can. But there are many businesses out there who won’t and will sadly be forced to close.
“Covid groundhog day is here again.”
Mr Swinney, who is Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, announced the move before the Covid-19 Recovery Committee at Holyrood yesterday, saying the Government had “engaged with the sector” prior to the decision.
He said: “While it would be open to them to operate with distancing and table service and that option will remain, we consider that closure in regulation, combined with financial support, may reduce losses and help these businesses weather what we hope would be a short period until they are able to operate normally again.”
Strip club boss Tony Chochrane, who runs venues throughout Scotland and employs around 300 staff, also demanded immediate clarification on financial support.
He said: “They need to tell us now what the funding package will be so businesses can make the decision on what they are going to do.
“Staff in the industry and basically being told their jobs are at stake now. There’s no furlough and jobs are no longer protected.
“If there’s no money who is going to pay them? Jobs will go and businesses will fold.
“Our prime time which is Christmas and New Year is gone and we’ve lost all that. Yet we’ve got to put our hands in our pockets to pay all the costs? It just doesn’t work.
“Last time was bad but we had funding and furlough. We made no profit but we got through it and paid the bills. This time is completely different and we don’t know how long this is going to last.”
The legislation has no end date, meaning the restrictions could be lifted earlier or later than first intended.
On funding, Mr Swinney said the infustry would recieve “targeted financial support”.
He said: “We are providing additional support of £375 million, including £100 million announced last week, to support businesses directly impacted by Omicron and will publish a full breakdown and allocation of funding as soon as possible.”
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