A CALL for the cultural value of nightclubs to be recognised has been made by the co-owner of the globally known Sub Club in Glasgow.
Mike Grieve claims it would be “financial suicide” for clubs to open up under social-distancing measures because they operate on such tight margins they need full capacity to be viable.
His business has already paid out £30,000 in wages since the lockdown – only to find that the expected furlough payment from the UK Government has been withheld because of technical problems caused by HMRC’s own registration system.
With no income coming in, the Sub Club can no longer afford to pay staff but, despite a protracted struggle and repeated pleas from MP Alison Thewliss, the furlough payments have so far been refused.
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While restaurants and bars in Scotland are looking at ways they can open under social-distancing rules – including an ambitious plan to construct a £1 million glasshouse over a section of Glasgow’s Argyll Street – clubs and music promoters are adamant they can’t open until social distancing is over. Until that point Grieve said they would need support.
“What is needed here is a recognition from the Government that there is a cultural and social importance to what we do and it is not just a frivolous activity,” he said.
Even if you have a nice big space like The Garage it could technically open but only to a tenth of its capacity so it is not worth it. You can’t do it.
“It is very important to people, not least in terms of mental health. There has to be recognition of this and support put in place so that entertainment and cultural venues can re-open when the time is appropriate.”
He pointed out that the UK Government was expecting employers to start contributing to the furlough scheme but that was impossible for nightclubs with no current income. The loan scheme is of little use as nightclubs operated on such tight margins they would be unable to pay any money back, according to Grieve.
He said that if clubs went under, the cultural impact would be felt for a long time
“They are the epicentre of young people’s lives and very important on the journey to adulthood. It would be tragic if they were lost,” he said.
The Sub Club has a capacity of 400 but social distancing of two metres would take that down to around 75, or fewer, according to Grieve.
“We can’t re-open until we are back to 100% capacity otherwise it would be financial suicide.
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“Also the whole point of the experience is that it is about intimate social contact and shared experience, shared joy and shared euphoria.”
Even if the club were economically viable with small numbers the experience would be so joyless people wouldn’t go, said Grieve, adding that he would be surprised if clubs could open before the winter.
“We have just got to hope that track, trace and testing measures are put in place properly. I am concerned that the basic incompetence of the Government at UK level threatens all our businesses.”
Music promoter Donald MacLeod argued that once the infection rate – the R number – was down, bars, clubs and restaurants should be allowed to open without social-distancing measures.
“Just have normal numbers and take extra care with hygiene,” he said. “The two-metre rule can’t operate. Small pubs, clubs, restaurants and hotels can’t do it and it will take out a vast amount of the hospitality sector in Scotland which is now well renowned and a huge employer.
“It’s impossible, it really is. We are trying to reshape a new normal but no-one knows what that is. I don’t think we should accept a new normal, not with a virus that is changing so much and so quickly. If you look at the Hydro in Glasgow it has a capacity of 10,000 but under social distancing of two metres that would come in at 800, so how can you pay the band? You would also need to pay more for security and more for PPE measures.
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“Even if you have a nice big space like The Garage it could technically open but only to a tenth of its capacity so it is not worth it. You can’t do it. Our view is let’s not accept that and when the R number comes down let’s get things moving.
“This narrative that we are hanging onto that we could maybe adapt or open outdoors – that is just accepting a new normal.”
He added: “Glasgow is supposed to be the City of Music – what in your living room? And the Edinburgh Festival is technically gone unless you aim for zero social distancing.”
MacLeod said he wanted First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to announce a detailed plan on June 18 when she is due to speak about the next stage of easing of lockdown restrictions.
“We don’t have that at the moment,” he said. “It is almost as if we are going to keep on like this until the virus goes away but that’s not the way viruses work. We wholly endorse the closures and we did it with immediate effect because of the severity and danger but we want to see the same speed and response to getting things back to normal when it is safe to do so and we are not getting that assurance at the moment.”
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