Kitchen Stink

Top chefs say restaurants are being ’chucked under the bus’ as Sturgeon extends hospitality shutdown

- Paul Hutcheon

TV chef Nick Nairn last night roasted Nicola Sturgeon for imposing a “cataclysmic” extended shutdown of restaurants.

And Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin told how one of his suppliers was in tears at yesterday’s devastating news.

Nairn said: “The longer this goes on the harder it becomes and the harder it is to guarantee people’s jobs. This is without a doubt the worst time for the Scottish hospitality industry.

“I worked through three recessions in a 35-year career but there has been nothing like this. It is cataclysmic.”

The current crackdown, which closed licensed premises across the Central Belt and forced those elsewhere to serve alcohol outdoors, is to be extended for a third week.

A new plan which has yet to be confirmed will come into force on November 2.

Nairn criticised the First Minister for treating all licensed restaurants and pubs the same.