THE Scottish Government is facing a legal challenge over the restrictions it has imposed on the hospitality and nightlife sectors.

The Night Time Industries Scotland trade body has announced it is launching legal action to end restrictions such as limits on venue capacity and opening hours.

The group argues the curbs are “no longer justifiable or proportionate” and claims their continuation would be a breach of the Human Rights Act.

The Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, Roddy Dunlop QC, will lead the legal challenge and he is seeking a judicial review about whether the measures are still valid.

A statement from Night Time Industries Scotland said: “The hospitality sector in general, and late-night sector in particular, has been driven to the edge of insolvency by the severe restrictions in place since the start of the pandemic.”

It continued: “Scottish Government support has been wholly inadequate to compensate for operating losses and a majority of businesses have now incurred unsustainable debt as a result.