Tony Cochrane: Last News

Nightclubs can open their doors once more from Monday but tensions between the beleaguered industry and the Scottish Government are still running high.

A Paisley nightclub boss has told how his industry has been left “clinging on” after an eleventh-hour decision forced them to close.

EXCLUSIVE: Bulletproof co-creator and The Sweeney director Nick Love is developing a Troubles-set TV series with DJ Pete Tong.

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Nicola Sturgeon to let them open for next weekend’s Old Firm match – or risk a Covid explosion linked to house parties for the big match.Licensed venues across Scotland cannot serve booze indoors after 6pm today – and Central Belt bars will close entirely for 16 days under new lockdown rules.But with the crunch Celtic vs Rangers league clash kicking off at 12.30pm on October 17, there are fears fans will gather in private homes, breaching the coronavirus rules.Now pub owners have asked for a rethink to allow fans to watch the game in pubs, where industry leaders say corona rules can be strictly supervised.Tony Cochrane, who runs pub and club venues in Scotland including Fat Sams and Duck Slattery’s in Dundee, Vienna’s in Paisley and the

coronavirus restrictions. Cheerz, on the city's Exchange Street, has issued a statement saying that rules on not playing music had 'completely changed the atmosphere'.

A strip club boss has claimed banning the venues would have the same effect as booze prohibition in the US – driving the trade “underground”.

club owner has said.Tony Cochrane, who runs nightclubs and adult venues across the country, said he was shocked at the announcement by tourism minister Fergus Ewing yesterday that clubs could also open on July 15 alongside pubs.Preparations have already began with bosses looking at potential measures like hand sanitising stations, temperature checkers given to bouncers, only allowing pre-booked visits and ensuring all staff and punters are wearing masks.But the traditional lap dance could be off the cards - with strippers instead dancing from a distance to stop any potential spread of the deadly coronavirus.Mr Cochrane, who owns the Private Eyes franchise of strip clubs and the Club Tropicana brand of nightclubs, told the Record: "We