Glasgow's Garage and Cathouse face being closed for months - but want to keep loyal staff for post lockdown

How to social distance two metres apart in busy dimly lit venues where close social contact is at the heart of the experience is likely to be a hurdle too high.

Bosses at two of Glasgow’s top club and live music venues believe it could be Christmas before they re-open and next year before live music returns.

Under normal times the Garage, in Sauchiehall Street and the Cathouse, in Union Street, would be packed every weekend just now.

But the management understand that safety comes first and are preparing for a longer period of nightclub closures than other sectors.

They have used the UK Government furlough scheme to retain all 200 staff and business needs as well as loyalty means they intend and hope to keep them on the books until they are ready to rock again.

Brian Fulton, Director, is responsible for the finance operations of Hold Fast Entertainment which owns the two clubs.

He said: “So far we have everyone bar myself and one other on furlough.

“We though it might only last around six weeks or so but when it became clear it was for longer, we had to then shut down the marketing operation too.

“We have around 200 staff on furlough. A lot of them have worked with us for many years.

“For the first six weeks we were able to pay staff the 20% to keep them on full wages, but from this week it has had to go down to 80%.”

The ask with the continuation of the scheme until October, announced by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, is for flexibility and a recognition that businesses like nightclubs will still have no money coming in and need to continue to be helped to support and retain their staff.

Mr Fulton, said: “My hope is the furlough extension will be sector specific.

“For us we would like that, until we get guidance we can open up, it would be kept at 80%.

“With no money coming in we are eating into our resources and might have to use loans.

“It is an outstanding scheme that has allowed a lot of people to breathe a sigh of relief.

“It was simple to do once I put in all the details the money was in the bank five days later. I’ll be doing another in a week’s time.”

Every sector has its busy time that helps keep operations running through quitter periods.

Retail relies on Christmas, garden centres, the spring but clubs like the Garage and Cathouse risk losing out on their most lucrative period this year.

Mr Fulton said: “For us it looks like nightclubs will be the last to re-open.

“We are treading water just now, hoping there will be a vaccine or antibodies are confirmed.

“We can’t honestly say when we will be opening. We need to be sure we can keep staff and customers safe but ensure people have a good time.

“Our busiest season is from freshers in September until New Year.

“If we could be open by then it would be fantastic. Now we would like to be open for Christmas.

“The diary was filling up for live music but we are now looking at next January or February.

“A lot of our touring bands come from Europe and the USA so we need to see what international restrictions are in place.”

He said furlough means they could be up and running at a week or five days notice.

He added: “There’s a loyalty. These people have helped us build up the company to what it is so we should be using resources to help them.

“We are holding resources to contribute if we have to when it goes to 60%.”