1703 DUNFERMLINE is hoping the next time they have to re-open will be the last time.

In December the bar, restaurant and music venue on Bruce Street closed indefinitely as Fife remained in level three of the Scottish Government’s lockdown restrictions.

Owner David Stein had said that it would only be able to open again when the area moved into a lower tier.

That was before it was announced that the Kingdom would enter level four of the restrictions from Boxing Day, and long before a full lockdown was imposed for mainland Scotland from January 5 with a clear “stay at home” message.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed on Tuesday that hospitality could resume from April 26 at the earliest as she outlined the Scottish Government’s route map out of lockdown.

Upon hearing the news, David told the Press that while it offers his business – which encompasses a hotel, kitchen/grill restaurant, cafe and cocktail bar – a “glimmer of hope”, he feels that the timescales being given are still uncertain.

He said: “The announcement was cautious, some may say too cautious, but if it means we are re-opening for the last time you can afford to be a little more understanding.

“The indicative date of Monday, April 26, is of course welcomed. Although, as a business, there is still trepidation. We have been told we will enter what was tier three on this date.

“How long for? How do they decide three weeks later if you move down or up a tier?

"Our business is a hybrid venue which relies on alcohol sales to trade viably and although the full strategic fund is available for the first four weeks, we need to have confidence we can return to a viable trading option soon after opening before making any concrete decisions on when 1703’s doors will open again for good.

"We know we will be back serving the great people of Fife better than ever, but all we are asking is that the Scottish Government give a fair timescale, clear and understandable reasoning, and the support each business needs to open at a time that gives them the best opportunity to secure jobs and the recovery to protect people’s livelihoods.”

David had previously stated that operating in tier three wouldn’t be viable due to the reduced opening hours and not being able to serve alcohol.The venue has all of its staff on furlough and no redundancies have been made during the course of the pandemic.

David hopes that this will remain the case and said: “We’re a family business that relies on our staff to make it successful. Our staff are incredible, and I truly mean that. They are the business.

“If we can get out of this past year, and what we’ve all been through, without making any redundancies, I’ll be delighted and very proud of ourselves.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “On February 16, we confirmed that retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation businesses will pay no rates during 2021-22 provided the Scottish Government receives the funding already assumed from the UK Budget on March 3, and that requisite funds are available to maintain existing support into 2021-22.

“This builds on the three-month extension announced in the Scottish Budget and follows confirmation of a further £1.1 billion of consequential funding arising from UK Government coronavirus spending.

“We know that businesses need clarity and certainty, and the strategic framework business fund will therefore continue to support eligible companies beyond March 31 in the event we receive requisite consequentials on March 3 from the UK Government.”

“In addition, recognising that there are costs and challenges associated with re-opening, when a local authority area transitions from Level 4, eligible businesses will continue to get the strategic framework business fund closure payment of up to £3,000 for the first four week period after they are able to re-open.”