THE owners of a popular Greenock hotel fear they'll be forced to make staff redundant after being left devastated by the government's hospitality ban.

Joe and Veronica Nelis, who have run The Tontine for nearly 20 years, say they are devastated by the First Minister's lockdown on licensed premises in the central belt.

The couple run the family business with their daughter Vicki MacDonald and kept their 55 staff on during lockdown, but the latest closure means they will have to pay people off.

Joe says this is the worst situation they have faced since taking over the hotel.

Mr Nelis said: "It's the worst it's been since taking over the business.

"From April to the end of September our takings are down by 85 per cent compared to last year.

"We haven't paid anyone off but it will have to happen now.

"We spending £12,000 a week on wages at the moment and we have virtually nothing coming in."

The family say they've done everything they can to keep the business going without receiving any help from the government.

They applied for a grant but this was rejected.

They have put another application in but the latest closure of hospitality announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has come as a hammer blow in tandem with the tapering-off of the furlough scheme.

Veronica said she was stunned by Ms Sturgeon's ban.

She said: "We were totally blind-sided.

"It's devastating to the business.

"I am worried about the future and I'm worried about the staff as well.

"This is the final blow, this will put a lot of people out of work."

Accounts manager Vicki said it was hard enough during lockdown and when the Tontine re-opened on July 15 it was 'like beginning a new business'.

She said: "We had to buy new food, drink, get new table plans and bring in extra cleaning materials."

Veronica said: "We knew we had survived lockdown and we felt 'we'd made it' and were getting used to the new normal - and then this happens."

The owners are still paying for their licence for 52 rooms and a music licence, even though they can't play any.

Veronica says the hotel is much more than a business.

She said: "The Tontine is an institution, it's been here in this location for more than 100 years.

"We feel it belongs to Greenock and we are looking after it until the next people come along.

"We've run it for 19 years and it's more than a business, it's our life."

Vicki feels the hospitality sector has been unfairly hit by the government and says that this will only encourage people to socialise at home with others.

Veronica said: "Why can't we clear all the alcohol from the gantry and open?

"Not everyone who comes into the hotel comes in for a drink.

"We have visited a few licensed premises in the last few weeks and they have all been operating by the book."

She also pointed out that Inverclyde has been included within the ban affecting NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board area, while the district's infection rate is low.

Vicki said: "Dundee has an 83.7 per 100,000 rate and hospitality stays open and Inverclyde is 43.7 per 100,000 infection rate and hospitality is closed."

Other hospitality business in the area have also been left reeling by the shutdown.

It is due to end on October 25.