The boss of an Aberdeen bar said the Scottish Government’s music ban was “suffocating” the city’s night-time economy as the venue was closed indefinitely last night.
Cheerz, a nightspot just off Exchange Street, is the city’s oldest LGBT+ venue and previously played upbeat tunes in a pub area downstairs and nightclub upstairs.
The bar closed at 2am this morning after suffering a drastic drop in trade following a Holyrood ban on hospitality venues playing music.
It came following scientific advice suggesting the virus is more readily spread when people raise their voices.
General manager of Cheerz, George Mackenzie, said that despite the venue being able to reopen with the lifting of the local lockdown last week, it was not making enough money to cover costs.
He said: “I felt horrible after making the decision to close – but we had no other choice.
“I completely understand the need for restrictions, but it does feel like Scotland is backward compared to other countries with the limitations.
“The music ban suffocated us and is killing other city venues, the Scottish Government needs to review it as soon as they can.
“We are really struggling – and if we close now then hopefully we can utilise the furlough scheme for our staff and, if the music ban is lifted, be able to reopen.”
Fears were also raised that, given the number of late night bars and nightclubs unable to operate, young people could turn to gathering illegally at house parties – where drug use may be more rampant.
JP McGivney, who is leading the “save our scene” crowd-funder campaign online on behalf of city venues Unit 51, Bridge Street Social Club and Underground Klub, said the music ban makes it “impossible” for such businesses to operate.
He said: “It’s terrible news, but I’m not surprised another venue has had to close.
“But there’s no point going through all this if there’s nothing at the end and no dancefloor to dance on.
“This is also about keeping people in jobs. A lot of staff tend to be young people – we don’t want to throw them on the Covid rubbish heap.”
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has also joined calls for the Scottish Government to end the music ban.
SBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin added: “Without music, our venues are losing more of their soul.”
The closure of Cheerz comes barely a week after management of Nox nightclub, on Justice Mill Lane, announced it would not reopen.
Last night, Aberdeen City Council co-leader Douglas Lumsden said: “Hopefully the Scottish Government will keep the ban on background music under review so a compromise can be found before we see more closures in the sector.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We don’t want the restrictions in place for any longer than is needed, but in order to continue to suppress COVID-19 the clinical advice remains that pubs and bars should have no background music or volume from TVs. This is because of the increased risk of transmission from aerosol and droplets when people raise their voices.
“Remaining restrictions are under regular review and we continue to work closely with the licensed trade sector to develop updated guidance based on the best public health advice to keep people safe.”
He added that the Scottish Government continue to urge the UK Government to extend the furlough scheme, or to replace it with similar support.