Social industries shut down again in Scotland...

[GaolBhoAlba]

And those employed in these industries (theatre, art, hospitality) saying they a) need furlough reinstated b) will throw themselves into prep for next year.

Prep for what? To be closed down again!? Im finding this epic phenomenon of burying ones head in the sand perplexing. We've had a new variant every few months, and experts agree this will continue (we've averaged a new variant 4/6 monthly). Given this knowledge, why is there no acceptance, even a creeping one, that this can mean only one thing - your industry is finished. Is ignoring (the certainty of gov shutting you down in 6 months) a coping strategy? It must be, otherwise they'd be coming out fighting for the right to trade - not asking for the endless promise of furlough! Maybe its just me, and people are seeing an end point that i've wholly missed? 🤨

“why is there no acceptance, even a creeping one, that this can mean only one thing - your industry is finished”

Theatre, art and hospitality aren’t finished! They are a key part of what makes us human. It’s lockdown that is over, not that it ever should have started anyway. I guess by asking for furlough because they are being prohibited from being able to trade is calling their bluff since we definitely can’t afford to keep printing money forever.

i dont think these places will ever fully recover

We did come out and fight for the right to trade - we have been ignored at every stage.

What do you suggest we do? Sell our businesses? Obviously not going to happen.

Abandon them? We still have bills to pay. Those don't just stop even if we did "accept that our industry is finished."

Seriously - what would you do?

So OP your saying that the hospitality industry is finished and should just accept that?
You’re happy for theatres, pubs and restaurants to just close and not open again?
I think the majority of the public would be outraged if the entire hospitality industry had to close all for a virus that kills very few people.
Millions of people directly and indirectly would be out of work, meaning less money into the NHS and less people paying tax.
Do you know how much money the government gets from the hospitality industry as a whole?

There isn’t a lot else they can do. Furlough needs to be reinstated for all industries that have been told they cannot function due to covid. That is the only solution. There’s more than enough money to support that - if the tories can find a few quid for their mates they sure as hell can pay staff furlough until times are safer.

I don’t know what people expect? Life as previously normal doesn’t exist. We have to accept that and amend as necessary.

i dont think these places will ever fully recover

But it's worth it to stop a few people having a sore throat, don't you think?

We’re so obsessed with protecting the NHS but don’t someone so bothered about protecting industries and the catastrophic consequences.
What’s the point in the NHS if people can’t fund it.

Just for clarity, i'm not in support of these industries being closed down. Not at all.

I'd love to see a grassroots movement among them, demanding a clear exit plan or the right to trade. Look at the publicity Cinema & Co got as a lone voice.

Complaining that its frustrating, but you 'understand the need' is, essentially, writing your own P45.

@Hearwego

We’re so obsessed with protecting the NHS but don’t someone so bothered about protecting industries and the catastrophic consequences. What’s the point in the NHS if people can’t fund it.

Absofuckinlutely this!

Imagine living with no cinemas,theatres, pubs or restaurants. Fuck that. Not the kind of world I’d like to live in. It’s mad that anyone would think it’s fine to think that would be ok...

@Hearwego

Imagine living with no cinemas,theatres, pubs or restaurants. Fuck that. Not the kind of world I’d like to live in. It’s mad that anyone would think it’s fine to think that would be ok...

Thats where we're firmly headed though; we're two thirds of the way there! Yes, its an insane situation, and its what prompted me to ask the question - IS there an end point (that i'm just not seeing?)

I don't think it's ok at all

But what will happen? Their prices will have to increase to recoup and invite customers back

That will obviously aid further decline. People will be nervous for years to come so it will be an upwards battle

Cinemas and pubs were half empty before covid was around.

It's sad... I agree

I get where you are coming from op but I think it will take people time to catch up. When lockdown was first introduced it was seen as a temporary extreme emergency measure so furlough made sense. Lockdown would end, abs we needed a job market there when it did. Now there seems to be an acceptance that lockdown is not an emergency meaure but a long term part of our health infrastructure and if that is the case furlough cannot be justified for five months of every year forever. We either accept we want bars, theatres etc abs let them run, or we accept we would rather have lockdowns and these businesses fold, but we cannot keep “pretending” this is a temporary thing..it not viable to have the state pay the wages of a quarter of the workforce for half the year forever

Dgetc "Now there seems to be an acceptance that lockdown is not an emergency meaure but a long term part of our health infrastructure"

Is there? 😱

OP I know what you mean, sort of, but equally if your industry is going under there will be denial. I think at this point, no one knows. My parents live in a quiet place and plans for a cinema are going ahead. I am surprised the investors didn't pull out but someone clearly sees a viable business model in there.

I think these things will become much, much more expensive.