An entertainment boss at a Village pub has warned many could be forced out of business by Christmas as hospitality “bears the brunt” of stricter COVID-19 restrictions.

A curfew of 10pm for pubs, bars and restaurants came into force across the country on Friday as the number of daily coronavirus cases continued to rise.

It was part of tougher restrictions imposed by Nicola Sturgeon – but one Village pub boss fears the curfew could be the final nail in the coffin for many.

Events and entertainment manager at Barocco, Colin MacIver, told the East Kilbride News: “I think we’re bearing the brunt of the restrictions unfairly and it’s becoming a real strain on hospitality. If it continues like this there are undoubtedly going to be a lot of pubs out of business by Christmas.

“As a bar we have stuck to everything we have been told to do rigidly – from one-way systems to table service – yet we are getting hit by more restrictions.

“We have had no cases and complied with checks from environmental health, licensing and police. There has been no live music, which bars like us as a live venue, depend on – but that has just stopped.

“I understand as people drink more they may become less aware of what they are doing, but I don’t believe a curfew across the country at 10pm is the right approach – localise it to where there has been issues.”

The First Minister last week made a direct plea to Scots to stick to COVID rules as infections hit a record daily high.

Alongside the 10pm pub curfew, new Scotland-wide bans on households mixing indoors also came into effect.

The major concerns for places like Barocco is “getting customers through the door” and Colin added: “The tax and VAT break announced are all well and good, but if we aren’t getting customers through the door, then there’s no money.

“The three hours loss of revenue is at the business-end of the day, especially at the weekend – a loss of 18 hours of revenue in a week adds up. This is damaging pubs and the industry even more and, personally, I am sceptical about whether it will work.

“Folk might leave the pub 10 or 15 minutes earlier go to the off-licence and gather in a house. Pubs are safe as they possibly can be and many of us have done everything asked of us.”

But landlord at The Village Inn, Paul Jardine, said the curfew is the right thing to do, despite being hit hard financially.

He said it was “hard going, without a doubt,” but that the measures in place were “for the greater good”.

He added: “It doesn’t make it any easier. We had a curfew of 10pm apart from Saturday and Sunday when we were open until midnight. The weekend is now a write-off, forget it. We do better mid-week.

“It’s not just the curfew – even with the fantastic support I have had from the brewery, the whole situation is making life more difficult. No live acts is a major loss – it’s what we are known for. Before, we could have had hundreds in at the weekend.”

The introduction of the ‘no more than two household’ rule meant Paul’s existing capacity of 48 customers has reduced to around 29. But he still has the same expenses to pay, like showing live sport – even though there is no sound on the TV.

Planning for one of the busiest times of the year, the festive period, is also difficult.

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Despite that, Paul is adamant the curfew is the best course of action for now and said: “I don’t know how many people have asked me about Hogmanay and I have to tell them I just don’t know.

“December is a massive part of the year for us – what we make can help us through January, February and March – but this year who knows what will happen?

“You just have to do your very best under difficult circumstances, but I’ve seen how people lose all sense of the parameters and space the more they drink.”