Nightclub boss accuses Scottish Government of 'Presbyterian' outlook

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Nightclubs can open their doors once more from Monday but tensions between the beleaguered industry and the Scottish Government are still running high.Club boss Tony Cochrane has accused Nicola Sturgeon's administration of having the outlook of some sort of "ancient Presbyterian group", who live by the commandment "Thou shalt not dance".His remarks came after nightclubs were badly hit by prolonged Coronavirus closures during the first wave of the pandemic.They were forced to close again from Boxing Day as part of a raft of measures to halt the spread of the new Omicron variant but got the go-ahead to open next week as measures were reversed in response to the decline in cases.Tony, who operates Paisley nightspot Vienna's told the Express: "It's definitely an issue against a specific industry.

She has no interest in it."It's like some ancient Presbyterian group who don't want people to be able to dance on a Sunday in Scotland.

Dancing is a happy activity."They have an issue with alcohol and with young people dancing. There is no scientific data to support it."Tony previously told the industry had been left "clinging on" after being hit closures which saw them unable to operate from March 2020, they were only given the go-ahead to reopen in August 2021.But the eleventh hour decision shortly before Christmas to close again after Boxing Day, decimating the lucrative festive season which provides revenue for quieter months such as January and February, left the industry warning jobs were at stake.Night-time entertainments impresario, Tony who owns a string of clubs across Scotland including Dundee's Fat Sam's, added: "Scotland was the only country in the world that banned music because of covid."They are also keeping up these