Scottish snooker & pool venues are on the brink of ruin. Without a change in the government's approach or adequate financial support, local communities will lose vital facilities and thousands of people will lose their jobs - including many young people.
We are calling on the Scottish Government to:
1. Allow snooker & pool venues to be allowed to open on the same terms as bars & restaurants. Currently snooker and pool venues are only allowed to open in tiers 0 and 1, while restaurants can open in all but tier 4.
2. Instead of allowing our bars within our venues to open to customers with a main meal (as for bar and restaurants in tier 2), allow our bars to be able to open for people to play snooker or pool, without any requirement to have a meal.
3. Honour its own youth guarantee launched only a few months ago by supporting this industry.
As it stands, snooker & pool venues can only operate in tier 0 or tier 1.
Why should snooker & pool venues open at least the same as bars & restaurants or sooner?
1. Along with Bars & Restaurants we have mechanical ventilation, track and trace, social distancing, PPE and strict hygiene rules.
2. Maximum of 2 people at a Snooker or Pool table. This is far greater social distancing than any Bar or Restaurant.
3. As per current restriction masks worn while playing Snooker or Pool.
4. If there is scientific evidence that snooker & pool halls are less safe than gyms, bars, restaurants and amusement arcades, then let us know
Why do we think we are at least as safe as bingo halls, amusement arcades and gyms which can open in tier 2?
1. Snooker halls v Bingo halls: We are far more socially distanced than Bingo halls, we are only 2 people to a table.
2. Snooker halls v Amusement arcades: We are more socially distanced, we are at one table for our visit to the venue as opposed to moving around touching all the machines.
3. Snooker halls v Gyms: There is no build-up of sweat or heavy breathing whilst playing snooker. We have masks on at all times. While people in snooker and pool halls are at one table, as with amusement arcades, at gyms people move around touching all the machines
Skills and wages for young people
Hospitality is worth £10.6bn to the Scottish economy annually and employs 285,000 people, many of whom are young Scots under 25.
In September, the Scottish Government said to young people: “We are right behind you, we want you to be successful and we will do everything we can to give you the opportunities you need.”
The government cannot deliver on this pledge if hospitality businesses do not survive the restrictions it has imposed with insufficient support for viable operators.
Community fabric and safer socialising
Snooker and pool venues are part of the fabric in communities across Scotland. They provide a focal point for many aspects of community life, Snooker and pool venues are visited by all age groups from 9 to 90 plus! Our venues provide social, emotional and mental health & wellbeing for our customers. The average customer will play with one other family member or friend once or twice a week and generally for a couple of hours. Closure of these vital premises could decimate local communities.
Our focus is on the playing of snooker and pool, alcohol and food are secondary. Snooker requires a high concentration to be able to play at any level, so does not lend itself to customers having more than a few units of alcohol.
Also, people will find ways to socialise, no matter what restrictions are in place. Snooker clubs, bars, hotels and restaurants have mechanical ventilation, track and trace, social distancing, PPE, strict hygiene rules and operate within all the legal requirements of a premises licence. With at least a couple of metres away from each other whilst playing snooker or pool compared to any gathering/meeting in an average household lounge or indoor sport we are safer.
About this petition
The petition has been created by snooker & pool venues throughout Scotland. We aim to provide anyone reading this to have an insight on how our venues operate, how safe we are in comparison to similar hospitality that is open and how we provide vital social, health and wellbeing to our communities.