HOSPITALITY bosses in Lanarkshire have pleaded with Nicola Sturgeon not to introduce a curfew on opening hours. 

The First Minister is widely tipped to follow Prime Minister Boris Johnson in telling all pubs and bars to close by 10pm in a bid to combat rising Covid-19 cases in the country. 

However, chiefs within the industry have revealed existing measures have already taken their toll with a Lanarkshire chain suffering trading losses of about "70 per cent". 

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Lisini Pub Co., which operates the late-Celtic legend Harry Hood's Angels Hotel in Uddingston among others, has asked for the First Minister to not take a "blanket approach". 

Siobhan Edwards, of Lisini Pub Co., said: "The hospitality sector in Scotland, when we reopened, we opened with increased amount of debts. We had to perhaps borrow and we had ongoing costs for things such as insurance.

"When we reopened, only parts of our businesses could reopen. Some hospitality businesses are very event-led and they've not been allowed to reopen.

"For us, we operate six venues and only 40 per cent of those hospitality businesses are open. So, it has been quite tough.

Glasgow Times: Lisini Pub Co. operates Angels Hotel in Uddingston Lisini Pub Co. operates Angels Hotel in Uddingston

"We've had a reduced trading effect of about 70 per cent. I've thought long and hard about this. For the Scottish hospitality trade, we've had tougher restrictions in Scotland than England. 

"Whilst I do not want to compare Scotland and England, they have been stricter. In England, for example, you could socialise in groups of six with six different households. 

"In Scotland, we can socialise indoor and outdoor from two different households. That in itself has reduced our turnover by approximately 25 per cent." 

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Ms Edwards added to BBC Radio Scotland: "In addition to that, the tighter restrictions, including mandatory track and trace and mandatory no music, we've done our part in trying to supress this horrible virus.

"I would like the First Minister to surprise us all and acknowledge the fact the Scottish trade is doing all it can to keep people safe. I would implore her not to follow suit with England. 

"I don't believe the First Minister should take a blanket approach."