Scottish beer gardens to reopen on 6 July with restaurants set to open on 15 July 'with restrictions'

Further dates out of the lockdown in Scotland have been announced today, 24 June, by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Published 24th Jun 2020
Updated 9 th Aug 2023

During First Minister's questions this afternoon, Ms Sturgeon announced further dates for reopening the hospitality sector in Scotland, which are dependant on the continued suppression of the coronavirus - including the opening of beer gardens.

From 3 July, the five mile travel rule for leisure will be lifted and self catering holiday homes can reopen.

On 6 July, pub beer gardens and outdoor hospitality can reopen and from 15 July restaurants can reopen with distancing restrictions inside. The tourism sector and all holiday accommodation can also reopen on this date.

"This greater clarity is possible because of the progress we have made against the virus - but delivering on the milestones depends on that progress continuing," Ms Sturgeon told MSPs at Holyrood today.

"I hope today’s statement will provide people and businesses with a bit more certainty now in their forward planning."

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Today's Route Map sets out a series of indicative dates for the remainder of phase 2 and the early part of phase 3.

The First Minister warned if the Covid-19 virus begins to take hold again then the move out of lockdown "will be halted".

She said: "Our challenge - not an easy one - is to manage all of this change while keeping the virus firmly under control.

"If at any stage there appears to be a risk of its resurgence, our path out of lockdown will be halted and we may even have to go backwards.

"To avoid that, we must get as close as possible to elimination of the virus now and build confidence in our ability to control it in future through surveillance, testing, contact tracing and, where necessary, targeted suppression measures."

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She added: "If we can do that then the move from phase three to phase four will become possible, perhaps as we go into August.

"That won't be easy and it certainly cannot be taken for granted. But we can all play a part in making it happen."

The First Minister also urged Scots to continue to follow Government advice to ensure that Covid-19 continues to be suppressed.

She said: "The choices we have made to date as individuals, and collectively as a society, have brought us this far - albeit with a lot of sorrow along the way.

"But arguably, the choices we make in the coming weeks will be even more important - as we learn to work, socialise and live alongside each other again, but in a way that keeps the virus under control.

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"For us to meet each other indoors again, for more businesses to reopen, for children to return to school on a full time basis in August - all of that depends on all of us acting for the common good."

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Known for cake making, experimental jam recipes, Champagne, whisky and gin drinking (and the inability to cook Gnocchi), Rosalind is the Food and Drink Editor and whisky writer for The Scotsman, as well as hosting Scran, The Scotsman's food and drink podcast.
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