Glasgow 13th Note owner says staff to be paid in full

Jacqueline Fennessy has given assurances that workers at the 13th Note will not be hit in the pocket by the enforcement action which forced the premises to close with immediate effect at lunchtime on Tuesday.

The businesswoman told the Glasgow Times that she was shocked that evidence of vermin had been found and says steps are being taken to have the venue brought up to standard.

She said: “Despite being given a clean bill of health from pest control on May 25, signs of mouse activity were found during the inspection carried out on Tuesday.

“I have immediately actioned pest control to tackle the issue. Contractors have been called in to fill any holes found and to install gauze on air intake vents as recommended by the environmental health officers who visited. The unit is also being professionally deep cleaned.”

Ms Fennessy insisted that she was taking all of the points raised in the council’s inspection report extremely seriously.

She added: “All recommendations are being actioned, and we will be in a position over the next few days for a follow up inspection from environmental health. Workers will be paid during this closure.”

A sign outside the premises says it is currently ‘closed for essential maintenance’.

The Glasgow Times revealed yesterday how bosses at the venue had been ordered to close the doors immediately after the surprise visit by a health and safety team around noon.

Officers spent more than an hour carrying out a thorough inspection of the 13th Note before issuing paperwork saying firm evidence of the presence of mice within the venue had been found. They decided there was a lack of pest control measures in place and moved to enforcement measures.

The notice served on the bar on Tuesday (Image: Supplied)

Workers said today they are relieved at the news they will not lose out financially.

One said: “This is a relief because we were worried how long the venue would be closed and how we would pay our bills in the meantime.

“Members of staff told the owner about these problems weeks ago and they were ignored. It should never have got to the point that the council had to step in, but at least the staff, who are blameless in this, aren’t going to be penalised.”

Bryan Simpson, of Unite Hospitality, added: “The owner of the 13th Note has agreed to pay all workers their wages during the forced closure while they work to rectify health and safety issues.

“We are pleased to secure this guarantee for our members.”

Staff at the troubled venue have been in dispute with management for months over pay and working conditions, and last week two workers walked out when a support on a fridge collapsed and a shelf fell from a wall in the kitchen.

It was the latest in a long line of problems at the bar that saw staff lodge a collective grievance and a protest staged inside and outside the venue.

Meanwhile, a Glasgow-based singer-songwriter had her concert, due to take place at the 13th Note, saved through a last-ditch appeal.

Maria's gig has been saved (Image: Supplied)

Maria Quinn found out last night that the club had been closed, but the venue’s manager reached out to other venues and McChuills in High Street stepped in at short notice to allow the gig to go ahead.