Scottish pubs hoping 'gift' of World Cup will provide £7 million boost
Mixed views across hospitality sector on impact on late night screenings
Pubs and other licensed hospitality premises have expressed hope that the “once in a generation” opportunity presented by Scotland’s World Cup matches will provide a much needed boost for trade, with the key ties expected to bring a £7 million windfall.
With Steve Clarke’s men kicking off their campaign in the early hours of this morning against Haiti, hopes are high that their matches, and the wider tournament, will ensure a welcome upturn in custom.
Some premises have detailed the “creative” steps they have taken to make the most of the quadrennial tournament, such as reconfiguring their layouts and installing more big-screen televisions, while others have enlisted pipers to bolster the feel-good atmosphere.
However, some trade associations sounded caution, pointing out that while it is hoped the late night and early morning games will bolster footfall, many establishments were unconvinced about the economic impact.
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association estimated that the Scotland group games could generate an additional £7m for pubs and bars, with the figure increasing to £28m if the team upsets the odds and makes it to the final.
At one of Scotland’s oldest pubs, the Clachan Inn in Drymen, locals will be cheering on the national team, and in particular, 19 year-old Findlay Curtis, who was born in the neighbouring village of Balfron.
“Scotland qualifying for a World Cup for the first time in 28 years is a once in a generation moment for the licensed trade,” said Gordon Strang who, together with his wife, Elaine, is a proud custodians of the pub, a licensed establishment since 1734.
“This building has seen every Scotland appearance, but for most of our team and our younger customers, this is a first. People want to watch historical nights like these together, in company, not at home on their own, and that's exactly what pubs are for.”
Mr Strang said he had tweaked the layout of the bar and restaurant, added a further three large screen televisions, and was allowing late night table booking to help facilitate spectators. “My expectation is they'll be among the busiest sessions we see all year,” he added. “Whatever happens on the pitch, the next few weeks should be a genuine shot in the arm for Scottish pubs.”
Numerous establishments were making use of a ticketing system for the Scotland game against Haiti in the early hours of this morning. At the Old Post Office in Coatbridge, the pub closed at 11pm before reopening a half hour later for those who purchased a £5 ticket.
The same price applied to punters at the Kimberley Tavern on Glasgow’s Tollcross Road, for example, with the cost returned on the night, while at the Harbour Inn in Burghead, a deposit of £10 a head was being charged.
Some premises plan to keep the ticketing system in place for Scotland’s matches against Brazil and Morocco, but Stephen Montgomery, director of the Scottish Hospitality Group, said he expected the plans would “vary from venue to venue”.
He explained: “Some operators, particularly in city centres and larger towns, have introduced ticketed events or advance booking systems to manage demand and provide certainty for customers. Others will continue to operate on a first come, first served basis. The key priority for businesses is as always in ensuring customer safety and delivering a positive experience.”
Mr Montgomery, too, is feeling buoyant about the tournament, describing it as a “huge moment” for football fans and hospitality businesses alike. This is really a gift for many pubs, bars and hotels across Scotland who we hope will see a significant increase in footfall, particularly for Scotland fixtures,” he said.
“The next few weeks are incredibly important. Hospitality businesses right across Scotland continue to operate under immense financial pressure, with many still struggling to absorb increased costs such as the UK government’s idea of increasing employer National Insurance contributions, the Scottish government’s horrendous non-domestic rates revaluations, and a UK VAT rate that remains significantly higher than many European competitors.
“A successful World Cup period won't solve any of those structural challenges, but it will provide a welcome boost to revenue for many businesses.”
The Night Time Industries Association said it is forecasting a “signficiant boost” for companies, with more than 50 million pints expected to be sold in pubs throughout Britain.
Jodie Tate, chief operating officer for Greene King and Belhaven, said the firm was seeing “strong bookings” across its Belhaven pubs, and that it expected demand to further strengthen.
However, such ongoing financial pressures facing the sector, as well as rising costs and the prospect of a consumer base with lower disposable incomes, means that the optimism is being kept in check.
Paul Waterson, a spokesman for the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), said that although he expected firms to enjoy an upturn in trade, many proprietors were not convinced it would have a significant impact.
“Surprisingly, we did a survey of members just after Easter, and only 40 per cent out of a decent sample - about 400 or 500 pubs - said they saw the World Cup being of benefit,” he said.
“I think that reflects the timing of the games. It’s not only Scotland games people will be wanting to watch but other teams, and some are on at better times than others.
“What I would say is it’s not going to do any harm. You would expect an uptake, because people like to watch the World Cup with people around them, and a lot of pubs have been spending money on the best screens and sound systems.”
“There’s a lot of work that goes into it and I think a lot of places will benefit significantly from it. But the times do make it a bit more difficult.”
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