FOCUS
Credit crunch
As the downturn in the economy starts to bits, Kerry Lorimer examines the pain behind the statistics
T
he Scotsman’s Lounge is one of out into the darkened Old Town to see business or private household, have been
those rare beasts – a pub in the how the competition was faring. “But hit by soaring fuel prices. Because pubs
tourist heartland of Edinburgh just off it’s not just me, there’s no one’s in the are shifting less beer, they are ordering
the Royal Mile that retains a pleasingly streets,” he says. smaller kegs – which breweries charge
gritty local feel. Live music brings in an Of course, the credit crunch is tak- more for because of the higher delivery
eclectic crowd of regulars, and guests ing its toll on business. “Sales are most and supply chain costs associated with
from the nearby Radisson or Jury’s Inn
Sunda
null
y
certainly down, there’s no doubt about smaller containers. The cost of refuse col-
who get to feel like a regular for the
nights
that,” he says. “I’ve lost one member of lection has gone up by 30 per cent. And,
night. usually staff who has gone back to Australia for of course, there is the smoking ban.
But these days, the pub at the top of
aren’t bad,
good and I haven’t replaced her. I no If the Scotsman’s Lounge is struggling,
Cockburn Street feels physically colder.
but if we
longer have the luxury of an extra mem- others are doing much worse – and that’s
“I don’t have heating, I rely on body
allowed
ber of staff in case things get busy.” partly due to the smoking ban. At the other
power,” says landlord John Murphy, who Fewer punters through the door also end of Cockburn Street is the Hebrides
has run the bar for almost quarter of a
dogs in, it
makes it harder to justify paying a band. Bar, which Murphy bought three years
century. “It’s always been good enough
would have
For a pub like the Scotsman’s Lounge, ago. Although only minutes away from the
in the past when we had two dozen peo- been two where live music is its lifeblood, that Scotsman’s Lounge, it couldn’t be more
ple in. Now…there are four people sit-
men and a
would be a serious blow. “Live entertain- different. While the Scotsman’s Lounge
ting at the end of the bar.”
dog
ment is what keeps it going, but enter- draws in visitors from all over Scotland
It is a cold Monday afternoon in tainment will suffer because if nobody’s and further afield, the Hebrides is firmly
December, and Murphy is looking at last guaranteed to be here, nobody’s guaran- a locals’ pub. And while tourists haven’t
night’s takings. “Sunday nights usually
null
teed to be paid to play,” he says. been driven out of pubs by the smoking
aren’t bad, but if we allowed dogs in, it But falling sales at the tap is only one ban, locals certainly have.
would have been two men and a dog,” part of an increasingly gloomy picture for “The smoking ban has killed the Heb-
he says. So much so, he had a wander the licensed trade. Pub owners, like any rides Bar,” says Murphy. Because his first
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www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 15 December 2008 |
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