A GREENOCK nightclub has been given the green light to stay open with normal hours during the period of restrictions set by the Scottish Government - as bosses battle 'the quietest December on record'.

Venues have been advised to close by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for at least three weeks in a bid to curb the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

Establishments have been given the choice to close entirely and receive a government grant, or to continue trading within normal hours by implementing restrictions such as table service, advance bookings and social distancing.

Word Up bosses WBI Group say they will continue trading by adopting the tougher restrictions but they will be closing sister venue Text during the curtailment.

Despite being 'the quietest Christmas month ever', director of WBI Group Mark Brysland says being able to operate within the usual hours of early evening until 3.30am is the best way to recover losses that will be made during the restrictions.

He told the Tele: "The way the restrictions have been brought in so quickly has been a shambles and we are finding things out as everyone else does.

"Nightclubs have been given the choice to either close entirely and receive a grant or keep operating but with restrictions put back in place.

"Under the restrictions there has been no change to operating times, meaning at the weekends we can still have our midnight curfew and 3.30am closure.

"It's not ideal and we will still make losses, but we are hoping by staying open in some capacity we can still keep people working and may break even."

People in Scotland have been urged to stay at home as much as possible throughout the festive period and to limit any gatherings to three households.

Mr Brysland says there has been a 'knock on effect' within the nightclub industry.

He told the Telegraph: "With people cancelling their Christmas nights out, the people we'd usually see midweek and into the weekend over December haven't been through the doors.

"We've been anticipating closures or restrictions, so at least we do not need to shut completely.

"It is still a blow after having been closed for as long as we were."