Placard-waving protesters representing the island’s hard-pressed hospitality industry, took their case to the pavement outside Tynwald.

’Beer today . . . gone tomorrow’ and ’Give pubs a chance’ were among the many messages being waved by the protesters who included publicans and restaurateurs.

Geoff Joughin, chairman of theLicensed Victuallers’ Association, said: ’We are in very desperate financial situations, not just the LVA but all across hospitality and indeed small businesses across the island.’

The government’s Business Premises Support Scheme has been extended to all businesses eligible for it but this has been criticised by the protesters as not enough.

Mr Joughin said: ’We want to appeal to the government to give us some help and the salary support, we feel, needs to carry on until people don’t have that 25% deficit,’ he said.

The LVA represents about 60 businesses.

Mr Joughin said: ’It’s been difficult for the Treasury to get the balance right because we’re 60 individual businesses but we employ more than 1,000 people.’

He said the impact on individuals’ mental wellbeing was his primary concern.

’With closures and cancellations, it’s put our members in a very stressful situation.’

He said this was an island of small businesses and the peaceful protest on Tuesday morning was intended to highlight their financial plight.

Mr Joughin told the Manx Independent: ’We are in a desperately bad situation and we feel as if we are banging our heads against a brick wall.’

He is the owner of the Albert Hotel in Douglas and said: ’I don’t want profit, I want to survive. Let us just get through this difficult period. I run one of the most popular bars in the Isle of Man and I’m struggling’. Worried licensees fear premises could ’go to the wall without support’.