Achi news desk-
Last week, club bosses announced it would be closing after nearly two decades. The decision came following the discovery of a leak at the venue in the capital’s Chambers Street.
They said they were already dealing with “a huge variety of issues and challenges to work through.”
READ MORE: Iconic Edinburgh venue Jazz Bar closes ‘with a heavy heart’
Mr Cole-Hamilton has tabled a motion urging the Scottish Government “to do all it can to support other cultural institutions such as The Jazz Bar to allow them to continue operating.”
Edinburgh West ASA said the loss of the venue would “cut deep into the heart of the city’s cultural landscape while dealing a huge blow to everyone in the music community.”
He said: “The SNP love to masquerade as advocates for Scottish culture, but, in reality, we have seen far too many venues and cultural enterprises, such as the Screen Machine and the Edinburgh Filmhouse, come under increasing threat on their watch.
“By cutting the culture budget, cutting money from local government and failing to support businesses with the cost of living, SNP and Green ministers are unleashing a rising tide of pressure on our culture and hospitality sectors.
“I want to see the Scottish Government investing for the future to protect Scotland’s proud musical, artistic and literary history, and working with the UK Government to help ease the pressure on struggling businesses keep going.
“If they don’t, I’m worried we could see many more businesses face the same fate as The Jazz Bar.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Beer and Pub Association said the closure of the Edinburgh venue was becoming “a familiar story across the country.”
They added: “From the pandemic to the current business crisis in terms of costs of doing business, the sector has faced recent challenges and some popular businesses are no longer able to make it work.
“The introduction of business rates relief, similar to the one in England, would give some room, but we really need a longer term solution to the disproportionate amount that pubs and bars pay in rates.
“Similarly, a reduction in VAT would provide an immediate and lasting boost, boosting investment back into the sector.”
READ MORE: Musicians’ sadness after the sudden closure of Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government is acutely aware of the huge pressures facing businesses, with Brexit, Covid-19, the UK Government’s small budget, and the cost of living crisis – including prices high energy – are key factors.
“We continue to offer our support and support to business within our devolved powers and limited resources.
“This financial year, Scotland will have the lowest non-domestic rate for properties worth up to £100,000, ensuring that over 95% of non-domestic properties in Scotland are subject to a lower rate of property tax than anywhere else in the UK .
“Scotland also has a package of relief worth around £685 million including the UK’s most generous Small Business Bonus Scheme which offers up to 100% relief to eligible properties.
“The Scottish Government has increased funding for the culture sector by £15.8m to almost £200m this financial year, as the first step towards fulfilling the First Minister’s commitment to invest at least £100m more each year in culture and the arts by 2028/29. ”
