A WELL-KNOWN Johnstone pub could be closed for good unless the Scottish Government provides more support for small businesses, its owner has warned.

Colliers Bar has been a fixture in the town centre for decades but now faces an uncertain future.

Jamie Robertson, who took on the popular watering hole more than three years ago, has closed the doors as part of the lockdown which aims to halt the spread of coronavirus.

However, he feared he could miss out on vital support from the small business grant scheme.

The Scottish Government initiative has been criticised as less generous than the offer in England as it only provides limited assistance on a ‘per business’ basis, rather than ‘per location.’

It means that Colliers may not be entitled to a grant as the government is providing relief for the Club Bar, in Paisley, which is owned by Jamie’s father Alan.

At 6am this morning, the government did a partial U-turn, dubbed a "second phase" where secondary premises will get 75 per cent grants instead of nothing.

Jamie told The Gazette before the news: “They dangled this relief in front of us but, if you have two premises, you only get one relief. We run as two separate businesses and pay two sets of business rates.

“They are helping but not everybody’s getting that help.”

There are 16 full-time and part-time staff between the two businesses, with wages adding up to £2,500 between both.

Jamie said: “I’m worried about myself and my staff. The grant to the Club Bar will help but, with Colliers getting nothing, I don’t know how long it will last.

“Will I be able to open up again? I don’t know.”

Jamie is also concerned about the pub’s regular customers as, for some, a trip to the pub is their only interaction with others.

“This place isn’t just a pub, it’s a community hub,” he said.

Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said last week that the Scottish Government is “going to great lengths” to help businesses, with a package of support worth £2.2billion.

“This includes targeted support for small businesses and those medium-sized businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector which are liable for non-domestic rates to maximise the number of businesses we can support,” she said.

The Gazette: Kate Forbes Kate Forbes  

“As there are more businesses eligible for the £10,000 grant in Scotland due to the more generous Small Business Bonus Scheme, and recognising the other business support available to cover wages, we have decided to limit the £10,000 and £25,000 grants to one per business.”

On Wednesday morning, announcing additional support for secondary premises, she added: "Just as we ask the public only to buy what they need in the supermarkets, we are asking businesses who do not need this vital help to refrain from claiming additional support unless absolutely necessary so we can direct as much help as possible to those who need it most.”

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