NEWS UPDATE 19 January 2022

Great news at last that the restrictions sorry protections put in place at end of 2021 come to an end and we can RE-OPEN from Friday 28th January 2022 over both levels to bring back live events and rock upstairs in the nightclub once more. 

The long slog of re-building confidence restarts now AGAIN. Something that took a while in 2021 shattered within a week or two at the end of 2021 from Scot Gov as the uncertainty and unknows grew over Omnicronic. 

We hope that everyone starts to emerge from this latest period fit, well, healthy (as as near as damn it) looking at coming along as we kick off our 50th Anniversary year also seek out and buy event tickets again, booking in advance to show they are coming. 

I appreciate that many might still want to hold off and have their reasons for doing that, but have to explain that approach is now causing many tours, bands and venues up and down the UK when they see poor or insufficient sales to make the impossible call devoid of a crystal ball or ability to see into the future to continue with planned events OR more and more to postpone events despite restrictions either not being in place South of the border or when they end in Scotland. The more who hang off - the more the issue deepens. 

I know it's an impossible situation and hope something we can all get through quickly. I mentioned this before re-opening in 2021 and will say it again that I think this would and proven to be doing more harm than the restrictions would do. We refund anything that triggers a cancellation or postponement and skiddle even credit your booking fee so you are never out of pocket. 

Hopefully that and how we have operated throughout the pandemic will give you the confidence to book in advance and stop this cycle as we can only hang on so long to see how things progress and as I've said tons of times in the past the LAST thing we want to do but if it's going to be financially crippling to the band or the venue we have to consider a cancellation or postponement. There I said it. 

It's also worth noting we are now seeing hesitancy within bands set to play in venues based on home/personal/health covid related reasons which we fully appreciate and know it's a very hard decision to come to, so can't imagine what you are going through not play or rehearse. Sadly just another thing we face as bands can't commit to dates set well in advance up and down the country thinking we would be past this carry on. I'm afraid we have one coming up soon like that and will announce the plan of attack on that event very soon. 

Sorry to bring the joyous news down a few pegs but always better to share what's on the old mind which hasn't been too far off the mark with the old covid planning. 

SO to re-opening plans. What's what....and what's happening or changed. 

We revert back to how it was before closing to be honest and guidance as ever is on the home page of the website to refer to. 

LIVE EVENTS are back and ROCK CLUB ACTION follows on when they finish. It's only been a month and a bit since we could last do it together so hopefully you haven't forgotten what to do. 

MASKS are still mandatory in ALL hospitality settings when entering and moving about which for us includes going to the BARS. We can refuse entry and service for blatant refusal to wear one but will offer gentle reminders before we get to that point so use a bit common sense and ensure you are packing your own mask please. For the minutes to come in and get served not the end of the world. 

COVID VACCINE STATUS checks or covid passports as they have been dubbed are mandatory for us to check anyone coming to the nightclub including the boosters (although at time of writing this yet to see the in's and outs of the updates). So please download/update the app or have a paper proof sent to you as before. We won't get into the rights and wrongs of this other than to say we ain't happy with it either and something we legally must ask for. Please take it up with your local MSP or direct to Scot Gov if you have any comments or issues. FYI we never see your medical history when scanning your QR code just a green ticket on the screen to say we are good. 

 A RECENT (within 24hrs) negative lateral flow test (LFT) can be shown as an alternative to covid passports for entry to nightclubs as well for anyone having issues with vaccine status and welcome them over a passport any day of the week. Please ensure the results are logged on the NHS network (link on home page of website) as proof of a recent test and result to show on entry. 

IF you have any questions let us know but in the meantime get on the website and some excellent events coming your way soon. 

www.dreadnoughtrock.com

SOME BAD NEWS or a reminder of bad news mentioned last year. 

Thro late 2020 and into 2021 we became aware that the mobile App company we pay to develop and service it had gone quiet - very quiet. Even the ability to download it from Apple and Google app stores stopped with no communication why. Certain updates we needed to have done as in incorporating the new Skiddle event listing similar to the website couldn't happen as no-one was responding to our service requests. As a result when skiddle withdrew the very outdated ticket listing on the app at end of 2021 as there was nothing we could do further with it. 

Effectively it's now a dead duck and ask all to use their phone browser to access the website (which is SSL secure) gig listings. Apologies as many used it very regularly to check what was on and book tickets securely. Totally pissed off after the development and costs but there ye are and the reason the app only half works and why you can't download it any more. 

 

FRIDAY 25 FEB TBC

11 JANUARY NEWS UPDATE

After the 11 Jan review from Scot Gov no real substance for when the Nightclub can re-open also getting vital information on the number of questions we need answered on the complexities of the much needed support grants still go unanswered, so just like the video update posted on facebook where we are very much caught in no mans land we have to default to remaining closed for now and cancel off another weekend of live events pending more information. 

As it stands if we open the live level we would lose the ability to apply for the Nightclub Closure grant and I'm afraid until we get any concrete updates have to keep the full club closed TEMPORARILY. 

Just like Scot Gov....stay tuned for more updates next week. Same place....same channel. 

JANUARY 2022 NEWS - 4 Jan 2022

Well we've made it - 50 years of history, great nights, friendships, marriages, divorces and possibly even a few conceptions (not during a visit.....hopefully)

Scotland's Longest running Rock Club is now into it's 50th year so a Happy New Year to all. 

Granted not the start we had hoped for with a wee bit more uncertainty and Scot Gov deciding that nightclubs should be closed again after only being able to operate from August 2021 despite at least from our side many precautions, ventilation, as safe an environment as possible and insistence on many basic things such as masks, track and trace and other mandatory points despite the massive increase in facebook lawyers and medical experts turning up at the door to simply be told their facebook degree is not accepted at our school. 

We do find ourselves with a bit of a mission once again to build up the confidence for people who decided staying in for Christmas was what suited them best possibly didn't realise at the time had a massive ripple effect on every part of the night time economy right down to those business who look after getting you looking a million dollars to go out. 

Although we can't operate the nightclub until further updates we are re-starting the live music in January once again in safe seated operation. It does mean that capacity is cut once again but hopefully this will help the confidence re-building process that needs to happen otherwise many a venue will be lost or struggle and that will be more damaging than what covid has done in the last 2 years. 

I'll be up front and say we are not immune from that just because we've managed to hang around for 50 years. We once again need every bit of support once again whether it's a share on facebook or your bum on a seat at a gig in January onwards with all important advance ticket to show that you are coming. 

We appreciate things can change in an instant now with isolation by the household load being the major thing as Omnicronic takes over. The same can be true our end if a band member has to isolate causing a gig to reschedule. We certainly will try our best to ensure everything can go ahead as planned but please understand it's a knife edge we are walking so please be patient also check in with the latest on the event listing as it's the FIRST to be updated then via social media on the run up to the event. 

We hope to see you at what has had to be revised month to deal with a few things mentioned also work within the guidance issued just last week. 

As it stands :

FRIDAY 7th Jan - Rock covers from DIRTY BETTY

SATURDAY 8th - Rock Covers from THE SIGNS

FRIDAY 14th - tbc soon

SATURDAY 15th - Rock Covers from JOJOCOKE

FRIDAY 21st - Covers from FASTFORWARD

SATURDAY 22nd - Original Band THE SCARLET REBELS on tour with support tbc

FRIDAY 28th - tbc soon

SATURDAY 29th - STILL MARILLION

A Scottish Gov review is due on the current plan of attack on Tues 11 Jan for following 3 weeks into Feb which may have a ripple effect on events in second part of the month and early Feb will keep you all updated but as you can imagine we are now back to a point we never thought we would see again, and the constant wait and see what Scot Gov will do or adjust pretty short notice. 

It makes planning more that 2 weeks ahead nearly impossible again. 

So yet again we call upon your patience to see what we can do and can't do in the given timescales and ask to keep checking the website events listings FIRST and FOREMOST. 

Simply pulling the plug, moving or deciding too quickly can be just as damaging to an already fragile confidence situation which we have learned very quickly in the last two years of juggling and spinning plates to balance the need of the business, bands wishes, financial burdens but most importantly the safety of all who attend the club. 

Simple things like bands booking a flight months in advance to save a shilling now becomes financially crippling if there are any last minute changes so bands wait for clarity that sometimes never comes. However there is a point of making a decision sometimes a month or two ahead that has to come. Sadly in the case of XSLF that were coming over in March fits into that, coupled with lack of confidence really affecting advance sales will just let you see the tip of the iceberg we have to deal with weekly. So when you roll these factors in with many more it means certain things have to be cancelled or postponed well in advance. Only if there had been another 20 or 30 sales in the bag after tickets being available for good part of two years could have made all the difference to the decision and helped cover fees associated with any live event to go ahead. 

Anyway lets leave it there for now and hope to see you hitting the website for all the details you need for the weeks and months that lie ahead.