SNOOKER hall owners today held a rally outside the Scottish Parliament in protest over their place in the Covid reopening "cue". 

Q Club boss Lake Sharma was among those to join the socially distanced demonstration in a bid to reframe plans to keep the venues shut until Glasgow reaches level one lockdown restrictions. 

As we previously reported, he believes pool halls and snooker clubs could reopen safely along with bars, pubs, restaurants, and cafes, which are due to welcome back punters next week.

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

He said yesterday: "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." 

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 with halls due to be closed until June 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.

Glasgow Times:

"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.”