CLOSING TIME

Scots pubs are calling last orders early and shutting their doors at 8pm in bid to save cash as the cost of living crisis hammers country’s night-time economy

- JACKIE GRANT

SCOTLAND'S pubs are calling last orders early in a bid to save money as trade is destroyed by the ongoing downturn in the economy.

Some premises are staying closed on quieter days of the week when they struggle to get any punters through the doors.

In a blow to the night-time economy, a poll of British Beer and Pub Association members found a third have reduced their operating hours due to higher operational costs.

The director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, Stephen Montgomery, said it comes as "no surprise" that some pubs are closing their doors as early as 8pm.

He said: "Why would you stay open and pay staff and spiralling electricity costs when you've no customers?

"Some pubs aren't just closing early they're not opening at all on quieter days Stephen warned the pressures facing pubs are worse in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK.

He said: "Utility bills are tripling, sometimes quadrupling and although the government helped homes with the energy support scheme, it stopped for business.

"On top of energy bills, we've got the national minimum wage increasing by almost 10 per cent next month.

"We all want to pay that but the money has to come from somewhere and customers don't want to pay increased prices.

"As well as closing early some nights, many pubs are staying closed on a Monday and Tuesday because there's no point in opening if there's no customers."