Glasgow Q Club owner leads snooker hall bosses' protest outside Scottish Parliament

Q Club boss Lake Sharma says he can't explain why pool halls have been ordered to remain shut until level one restrictions under the existing route map out of lockdown. 

Mr Sharma believes venues could welcome back players safely long before then – with a June date currently pencilled in – and insists they are just as Covid compliant as pubs, cafes, restaurants, and bars, which are all due to open on Monday.

Snooker hall owners left out of pocket by the pandemic are to hold a socially distanced rally outside the Scottish Parliament this afternoon. 

READ MORE: City of Glasgow College kids carve their way into history books with Roman head sculpture

Mr Sharma said: "It is a terrible situation and the last year has been brutal for us.

"We have contacted every MSP and we have not been given any answers. We have basically been told it is just what it is.

"The country is beginning to reopen. Gyms are opening and that's great for people's mental health. 

"But people can do that, can go to the pub from Monday, can meet in groups of six, but can't come into our halls, socially distanced, with all the measures we have put in place, and play snooker. 

"It doesn't make any sense. We feel we don't have a voice in this." 

Mr Sharma believes the extended closure of snooker halls will not only affect people's mental health but he believes it could have a negative impact on the sport's future, despite the ongoing success of a number of local players, including the East End's Anthony McGill and even Wishaw's John Higgins. 

"These decisions are being made by someone in an cosy office who has no idea what it's like in the real world," he added. "They have no idea.

Anthony McGill

"They are telling us how to run our business.

"We understand it's been a difficult year and people have lost loved ones. We do. But we need help. We have been given none.

"If they can explain to us and give us answers why we can't open, we'll accept that. We just want answers." 

A petition to change the venues' status reached the Scottish Parliament's Public Petitions Committee last month and was praised as having a "compelling case" by Glasgow MSP Johann Lamont. 

However, the route map remains the same and the sport's governing body, Scottish Snooker, said in a statement last week: "We simply want equity and parity of opportunity to access our sport the same as any other indoor non-contact sport." 

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Under the levels plan published earlier this month snooker halls must remain closed until Level 1 is reached.

"By 7 June the whole of Scotland is due to move to Level 1 if the coronavirus infection rate permits.

Johann Lamont
"As we have previously said, we all want to get back to normal as soon as it is safely possible, but we must move very carefully to ensure continued suppression of the virus.

"The Strategic Framework Business Fund (SFBF) provided grants to businesses that were required to close by law or to significantly change their operation due to Covid-19 restrictions from 2 November 2020. Snooker halls were eligible for SFBF and will have now received restart grants.

"Last month the First Minister announced that grants of up to £19,500 for hospitality and leisure businesses will be paid in April to help businesses re-open progressively

"The Scottish Government is also extending 100% non-domestic rates relief for retail, leisure, hospitality and aviation businesses for this financial year.”

The socially distanced protest will take place outside the Scottish Parliament today from 12pm.