Scots pubs and restaurants urged to apply for £40m emergency cash

Pubs and restaurants hit by the latest Covid shutdown in Scotland have been urged to apply for a share of £40 million of emergency funding.

The application process for the package has now been published by the Scottish Government. Firms will be able to apply to local councils for cash from next week.

"I would encourage all eligible businesses who need support to apply," Nicola Sturgeon said today.

Pubs on Edinburgh's Grassmarket are among those which have been hit by the latest shutdown

"There is, after all, an important principle. Many businesses are being required to take drastic action to help us tackle Covid and so it is essential that we take significant action to help them too."

Details of local application process will be published on local council websites from next Tuesday and firms will be eligible to apply in the following fortnight for cash.

The existing restrictions mean that pubs and restaurants across central Scotland have been ordered to close completely to help suppress the spread of the virus.

Outwith this area, pubs and restaurants can remain open until 6pm, but have been banned from serving alcohol. Cafes have been allowed to remain open provided they refrain from serving alcohol.

The decision met with a furious response from hospitality industry leaders, who have warned it will mean that hundreds of establishments go to the wall, while thousands of staff will be laid off.

Angry bar staff dumped large swathes of ice outside the Scottish Parliament and in Glasgow’s George Square in Friday night in protest at the restrictions as they came into force.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Joy Yates

Editorial Director