A PUB owner fears it may be last orders for his bar and says the local licensed trade will be badly hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Councillor Ciano Rebecchi, whose wife Diane is licensee at the Burns Lounge in Braeside, does not expect to reopen this year and fears for the future of the premises.

A survey last week said by the British Beer & Pub Association that 40 per cent of pubs in the UK are not expected to survive beyond September without government help.

Ciano says many businesses in the trade are already struggling.

He said: "I am sure more than one pub is going to close locally and won't open back up.

"I sincerely hope we don't close as we are a community pub."

Publicans have no idea when they will be able to open the doors again, with the hospitality sector expected to be among the last to lift the lockdown.

Ciano says owners are anxious about how they will make it through until then - and how they would be able to survive if social distancing measures remain in place afterward.

She said: "Before we open up we will have to make sure it is safe for staff and customers.

"I want to know how the government is going to resolve it.

"How can you go out to the pub and keep people two metres apart?

"If you go out with your husband or a friend, and the pub is one short of your new capacity, then how can you allow one in without the other?”

The couple have owned the Burns Lounge for 45 years and says it plays a big part in its neighbourhood, holding charity events and days out including pantomime trips at Christmas for customers.

Mr Rebecchi said: "At first I thought it would be September for reopening but now I don't think it will be.

"I don't think I will open this year.

"If pubs close, they will be forced to sack staff. "

He also worries that it will be a struggle to get regulars back into pubs and clubs after such a long time anyway and wants extra relief measures.

The businessman, who also owns the Comet in Port Glasgow, said: "This is an extra pressure, we need to work together on this.

"There should be one rates system for all commercial premises and not a different one for licensed ones based on turnover.

"The government needs to operate a system to work with us to get customers back.

"Opening the doors and putting up the rates just won't work.

"Pubs were struggling before this happened, especially with overheads going up all the time, and the unfair rates system does not help”.