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Scottish Hospitality Group’s Stephen Montgomery, Signature Group’s Louise MacLean and MML Leisure’s Gavin Boyle laid out the challenges and opportunities of operating in the city alongside the combination of licensing restrictions in Scotland, cost pressures and changing demographics is evolving the country’s hospitality sector.
MacLean, whose group operates around two dozen venues across Scotland, pointed to a behavioural shift among customers - particularly younger drinkers - who are going out earlier and drinking less.
Changing demand
She said: “It’s ‘go early, go hard, go home’,” while noting entertainment that previously started at 8pm, is increasingly beginning earlier at 5pm to meet demand.
Underlying this change is a broader cultural shift, she outlined, with younger consumers more health-conscious, price-sensitive and more aware of social media scrutiny. “They don’t want to wake up and be a meme,” MacLean added.
Operators are continuing to be fleet of foot, adapting and flexing to meet this continuously changing demand.
Furthermore, Scotland’s licensing rules, described by MacLean as “governed on steroids”, limits what venues can offer compared to other parts of the UK - particularly around promotions such as bottomless brunch. “We’re not allowed to do unlimited. It’s all controlled fun,” she added.
Practical challenges
Montgomery argued that while regulation aims to tackle alcohol-related harm, it risks missing the mark. “People aren’t getting drunk in our venues - they’re drinking at home on supermarket deals and then coming out,” he said.
Alongside regulation, practical challenges remain an issue. Transport infrastructure in cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, particularly late at night, continues to hinder both customers and staff, while rising costs and business rates are placing further strain on operators already battling declining sales.
Despite these pressures, there was cautious optimism. The sector is adapting quickly, with innovation and collaboration helping businesses stay relevant. As Boyle noted, success increasingly hinges on delivering value through memorable experiences rather than volume-driven drinking.
