Trying to get Glasgow’s night-time markets acknowledged by policymakers has actually resembled combating versus the sea, says Donald MacLeod, MBE.
The music scene veteran, who owns famous clubs Cathouse and The Garage, has actually been a champ for the city’s night-time economy however alerts that the market is presently facing its “most significant dangers to presence”.
Mr MacLeod is chair of the Night Time Industries Association and convener of the Glasgow Licensing Forum.
Speaking to the Glasgow Times as we launch a brand-new series unloading the city’s night-time economy crisis, he detailed a few of the significant elements adding to the market “passing away on its feet”.
The night-time economy includes businesses active in between 6pm and 6am, like bars, clubs, clubs, taxis, and dining establishments or takeaways.
The sector produces billions of pounds for the economy and uses countless individuals, however the cost-of-living crisis, skyrocketing energy rates, and inflation have actually slashed the profits businesses can make.
The tradition of lockdown policies, absence of night-time transport, Low Emission Zone (LEZ), and proposed federal government efforts consisting of the deposit return plan (DRS) are likewise damaging the market, alerts Mr MacLeod.
He said: “I believe we have a really damaged night-time economy in Glasgow, the pressure is actually upon a great deal of operators from the post-Covid financial obligation and the cost-of-living crisis.”
Like other stakeholders in the hospitality sector, Mr MacLeod is requiring the federal government to decrease barrel and cut business rates to conserve the sector.
He says the night-time markets were a few of the worst struck by lockdown steps. Many business owners and employees in the market felt “left in the wake of Covid”.
“From the taxis all the method as much as clubs or bars, we needed to combat [to get funding].
“It made me ill since I was among individuals on the cutting edge combating to attempt and get money, to attempt and get our sector acknowledged and valued, remembering that it deserved £5 billion to the economy and in Glasgow utilized as much as 20,000 individuals, so that’s a huge part.
“Plus, Glasgow is a city of music, however you wouldn’t understand it since we were silenced throughout the pandemic. We’re still silenced in such a way, significant problems showed.”
The city centre is substantially quieter nowadays. Work-from-home efforts, rail strikes, and an absence of night-time transportation have actually diminished the variety of individuals entering into town.
Less foot traffic paired with sky-high running expenses might be the death knock for the city’s night life.
Mr MacLeod said: “I believe minimizing rates and the barrel are 2 things that both federal governments might do to minimize the pressures on businesses, which in turn eases the pressure on the general public.
“It implies we’re not driving our rates up all the time which is something that I’ve been loathe to do.”
Donald is “gutted” that numerous business owners are wishing to load it in.
He said: “Glasgow was a club capital of the UK, it was also a UNESCO city of music.
“It was second to none for a night out. Glasgow was the powerhouse of Scotland.
“Not just the night-time economy but it was a powerhouse of Scotland for retail. It was for industry. It was for innovation. It was for hospitality. It was for the night-time economy.
“Now it’s not, it’s neither of these things at the moment because the foot has certainly been taken off the gas.”
In the decades that Mr MacLeod has been a part of Glasgow’s music and club scene, he has seen a lot of changes but never conditions this bad, describing it as the “biggest threats to the existence” of the trade.
Despite being hammered from all angles, he remains optimistic.
He said: “We’ll fight. We’ll continue. We’ll win. People still want to go out in the town. People still want to enjoy themselves.
“People still want to have a good time, see live music, eat and sleep in the early hours of the morning. And we want a means to be there for them to help them do that.
“I live and breathe music and night-time. I live and breathe music, dance, and rock and roll. And I think we’ve got to get back to that. To help the city and be supported in doing so.”
He added: “Glasgow Sauchiehall Street needs to thrive again. Let’s get it going. Let’s go for it.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government responded to calls for lower VAT and reduced business rates for hospitality.
They said: “We recently launched a New Deal for Scottish Business which will provide an opportunity to discuss how government can better support businesses, using the limited policy levers available.
“We have also set out a strong non-domestic rates regime in 2023-24, delivering a freeze to the poundage and a reliefs package including the Small Business Bonus Scheme, taking over 100,000 properties out of rates altogether.
“As part of this, it is estimated that around half of properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors in Scotland will pay no rates this year.
“We support businesses’ calls for the UK Government to take action and have repeatedly called for more help for business in reserved areas, including VAT and soaring energy prices.”
The Glasgow Times is examining the city’s night-time economy as part of a brand-new series. Please email our press reporter Marissa MacWhirter at [email protected] if you have any suggestions, concerns, or remarks.
