More than 400 hospitality businesses and workers have signed an open letter to Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf pleading with him to ‘save Scottish hospitality’.
The letter comes a week before the Scottish Budget, with all eyes on ScotGov to see whether or not it will match the 75% rates relief provided by the UK Government for hospitality businesses in England.
The Scottish Hospitality Group’s Save Scottish Hospitality campaign has been warning that, without that support from ScotGov, many Scottish hospitality businesses will struggle to survive.
Those who have signed the letter include representatives from many of Scotland’s best-loved and most recognisable bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels, from one end of the country to the other, including many regular Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards finalists.
Their letter explicitly warns: “Without support from the Scottish Government at the Scottish Budget, we will see our much-loved local hospitality venues disappear forever.”
The Save Scottish Hospitality campaign wants ScotGov to use the Scottish Budget to provide both short-term ‘emergency’ support for the hospitality industry, and a new long-term deal to support the sector into the future.
As well as 75% business rates relief to match the support that hospitality businesses in England & Wales have received over the last year, SHG propose the creation of a new hospitality category for business rates, which would recognise the unique challenges faced by hospitality, and a new ‘partnership’ between the hospitality industry and government to develop a plan to grow the sector.
SHG director Stephen Montgomery said: “This letter is an urgent plea from hospitality owners and workers from the length and breadth of Scotland. The First Minister must listen to those on the frontline of our hospitality sector and deliver support to save our hospitality sector before many of the venues we love disappear forever.
“We need to back our hospitality industry to survive and thrive, and a fairer deal on business rates would be one step the Government can take in the Budget to give our hospitality industry a fighting chance. If it can be done for hospitality businesses in England, then it can be done for Scottish hospitality too.
“The Scottish Government claims it wants a new relationship with the business community. It’s time to put their money where their mouth is.”
