Soft play centres and nightclubs are to be given grants of up £50,000 to help them cope with the “exceptional circumstances” of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Unlike other businesses, which have been able to open after lockdown, nightclubs and soft play centres have both had to stay shut as part of efforts to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
About seven months after they closed their doors, the Scottish Government has announced targeted support via a new fund.
Payments of up to £50,000 will be available from the Covid-19 Contingency Fund, with grants linked to the rateable value of businesses.
Companies operating across multiple premises will be able to claim one full grant, with grants of up to 75% for subsequent properties.
Business minister Jamie Hepburn said: “We know that nightclubs and soft play centres have been particularly badly hit by this pandemic – unlike the majority of businesses, they have not been allowed to open since March.
“These grants take account of those exceptional circumstances and will provide a boost as we continue to tackle the virus.
“We don’t want any business to remain closed for a day longer than is necessary but public health is paramount.
“Unfortunately we are at a critical point with infection levels rising again and it is not safe to lift restrictions on these activities.”
The minister said local councils would contact businesses in their area directly “to get the information needed to progress their claim”.
But a business body has hit out at the aid because of the conditions attached.
Premises will not be eligible if they have opened at all since March – for example by changing their licence to open as a pub – and awards may be reduced if companies successfully apply to the Cultural Organisations and Venue Recovery Fund.
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick said: “I am completely baffled by this decision not to give this financial support to nightclubs who re-opened as pubs. "Businesses were asked to be innovative in an attempt to save jobs, and now those nightclubs who did so are being punished again. It makes no sense.
“The Garage nightclub, which is one of our members, is typical. I know that as a pub they were only able to host 80 socially-distanced customers at a time. They did not make profit from this, but what they did do was keep staff employed.”
