New industry group issues appeal as Scottish Government enforces further limits on gatherings
A new body representing many of Scotland’s most successful restaurant and bar owners has called on the Scottish Government to immediately shut down licensed premises which flout social distancing regulations.
The newly-formed Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) comprises many of the country’s largest and best-known restaurant and bar businesses, including The DRG Group, Buzzworks Holdings, Signature Pubs, Montpeliers, Manorview Group, Lisini Pub Co, Caledonia Inns, G1 Group, Siberia Bar & Hotel, Mor-Rioghain Group, and Caledonian Heritable.
The businesses are founded and based in Scotland and collectively contribute a significant investment to the Scottish economy, employing close to 6,000 staff across the country. The well-known venues have a combined turnover of over £275 million.
Yesterday the organisation demanded that ‘rogue licensees’ who fail to enforce social distancing regulations, in light of the revised Scottish Government guidance limiting gatherings to six people from two households, should be shut down immediately to safeguard the wider industry.
Award-winning hotelier Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the SHG, who runs two hotels in Dumfries and Galloway, said: “We have been forced to act because our industry is facing an existential crisis.
“The vast majority of bars and restaurants in Scotland have been adhering religiously to every regulation that has been introduced because we realise the very future of our industry is at stake.
“The Scottish Government simply must not take a blanket approach if a few rogue licensees fail to do the right thing.
“All members of the SHG are united in calling on the Scottish Government to immediately shut down the operators of bars and restaurants who don’t adhere to the very highest standards of social distancing, PPE and other essential hygiene measures.
“Targeting the few bars and restaurants which are breaking the rules is the proper and proportionate way to proceed, particularly in light of the revised Scottish Government guidance limiting gatherings to six people from two households.
“Responsible bar and restaurant owners across Scotland are also essential to the effective use of the track and trace system. If you shut down restaurants and bars, you are massively increasing the risk of more house parties and irresponsible gatherings, where track and trace is almost impossible.”
The SHG founding members are:
The DRG Group – Mario Gizzi
The Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group (The DRG) is Scotland’s largest independently owned restaurant operator. Founded by Joe Conetta and his nephew, Mario Gizzi, in 1983 with the creation of the Glasgow institution, Di Maggio’s. Thirty years later, Mario is still at the helm, co-managing the business with Joe’s son, Tony Conetta. DRG now has 25 restaurants in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Brands within the DRG include Di Maggio’s, Café Andaluz, Amarone, Barolo, The Anchor Line, Atlantic and Cadiz. Gizzi is also co-owner of another successful restaurant business. Turnover £40m – 1,200 plus employees.
Buzzworks Holdings – Kenny Blair
Buzzworks Holdings is one of Scotland’s fastest growing independent restaurant and bar operators, managing twelve prestigious venues across Ayrshire and beyond with over 500 staff. The award-winning company offers an aspirational dining and entertainment experience through four stylish brands – Scotts, House, Lido & Vic’s & The Vine – bringing in an annual turnover of over £18m. It is currently ranked within The Sunday Times Best 100 Best Companies to work for in the UK.
Signature Pubs – Nic Wood
Signature Pubs formed in 2003 with a current t/o £35m Scottish hospitality business of 22 non branded venues – independently owned, operated and financed. We employ +700 staff to operate these bars, restaurants and hotels. Representations of all aspects of the sector eg Kyloe Restaurant & Grill – premium steakhouse within The Rutland Hotel in Edinburgh’s West End, The Spiritualist – cocktail bar in Merchant City, Glasgow, Cold Town House – restaurant, bar, entertainment venue and microbrewery offering tours and experiences in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.
Montpeliers – Innes Bolt
Launched in 1992, Montpeliers is a forward thinking bar/restaurant, nightclub and hotel group. It turns over more than £15m and has seven venues employing just over 250 staff. These include Tigerlily, Rabble, Montpeliers, Indigo Yard, Eastside and Candy Bar. David Wither and Ruth Wither (Partners) also founded one of the most successful online hospitality training businesses – Flow.
Manorview Group – Steve Graham
Established in 2007, The Manorview Group boasts eight luxury boutique hotels across the central belt of Scotland and more than 500 employees. They specialise in the restoration of old and tired properties, transforming them into luxury boutique hotels. These include The Busby Hotel, Busby; The Torrance Hotel, East Kilbride; Boclair House, Bearsden and Cornhill Castle in Biggar. The business turnsover in the region of £16m.
Lisini Pub Co – Lisa Wishart
Lisini Pub Company is one of the most successful, independent, family run hospitality businesses in Scotland. With almost 50 years’ experience its portfolio of hotels, bars and restaurants in Lanarkshire include: Angels Hotel in Uddingston, Dalziel Park Hotel in Motherwell, The Parkville Hotel in Blantyre and The Castle Rooms in Uddingston. The company turns over in the region of £8m and has 240+ employees.
Caledonia Inns – Billy Lowe
Formed in 2017 by Billy Lowe who formerly owned Saltire Taverns (sold in 2015) has owned 36 bars over the course of the last 25 years. His current venues include Black Ivy and MacSorley’s in Edinburgh. The business turns over £8m and has 100 employees.
Caledonian Heritable – Graeme Arnott
Caledonian Heritable turns over in excess of £45 million and employees some 800 plus people. It is one of Scotland’s biggest bar and pub owners and operators.
G1 Group – Lesley Welsh
G1 Group was founded in Glasgow in 1990 and is Scotland’s largest independently owned hospitality group. With a diverse collection of over 50 venues, they specialise in the restoration and refurbishment of buildings with listed status. G1 operate a handful of hotels in Edinburgh, as well as a range of restaurants, bars and pubs all over the country. They also operate 3 cinemas, including the only independently owned IMAX in the UK. G1 has a turnover of £85m with 930 staff.
Siberia Bar & Hotel – Stuart McPhee
With a turnover of £1.5m and employing 28 staff, Siberia Bar & Hotel, is an award winning independently owned bar, restaurant and hotel on a site that has been operated and developed by the company in Aberdeen city centre for over 40 years.
Mor-Rioghain Group – Gavin Stevenson
Mior-Rioghain Group venues offer fine Scottish hospitality and a range of local food and drink that showcase the very best Scotland has to offer. The business employs 125 people across its three sites in Aberdeen and Inverness and turns over £3.5m.
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