Pubs and restaurants to re-open in Scotland in less than two weeks

Pubs and restaurants will be able to resume outdoor service in less than two weeks, as the Scottish Government published indicative dates for further easing of Scotland’s lockdown restrictions.

In a much-anticipated update to the phase two guidelines, outdoor hospitality may resume from 6 July, as long as social distancing guidelines are adhered to.

Then in phase three, from 15 July, restaurants, pubs and cafes may open indoor areas – still subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice.

It comes as Scotland’s weekly Covid-19 death toll fell to the lowest number since lockdown began on 23rd March, according to the official National Records of Scotland figures.

The update to the government’s “routemap” out of lockdown was announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Wednesday, and also includes indicative dates for the re-opening self-catering accommodation and the relaxation of the 5-mile travel restriction.

Key dates for phase three are also outlined, including for the reopening of hairdressers, shopping centres and households meeting indoors with physical distancing.

Ms Sturgeon stressed that these milestone dates will only be delivered if the progress the country has made in mitigating the spread of coronavirus continues.

© PA

Addressing the Scottish Parliament, she said: “This greater clarity is possible because of the progress we’ve made against the virus, but delivering on the milestones depends on that progress continuing.

“We will complete our formal 3-week reviews, as required by law, on the 9th and 30th of July, and I will make statements in Parliament on both of these dates.”

She added that the indicative dates have been made possible “due to people across Scotland doing the right thing and following the rules”.

“The sacrifices that have been made have suppressed the virus, though I know how hard and, at times, painful they have been,” Ms Sturgeon said.

“Let me stress that each step on this path depends on us continuing to beat the virus back. If we don’t do that we can’t take these steps forward, and if the virus starts to spread again, the steps we have already taken may need to be reversed.”

The First Minister also addressed concerns that Scotland’s pace out of lockdown is much slower than England’s, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Tuesday that pubs and restaurants could open indoors and outdoors in England, subject to social distancing, from 4 July.

She said: “Our pace is slightly slower than England’s, but it is, in my view, right for our circumstances, and I hope it is more likely to be sustainable than if we went faster now.”

Here are the indicative dates outlined on the Scottish Government website:

Key dates

Monday 29 June

• Indoor (non-office) workplaces resume
• Street-access retail can re-open
• Outdoor markets can re-open
• Relaxation on restrictions on housing moves
• Outdoor sports courts can re-open
• Playgrounds can re-open
• Registration offices open for high priority tasks
• Marriages & civil partnerships allowed with minimal attendees – outdoors only
• Zoos and garden attractions can open for local access only

Phase two

• Travel distance restriction relaxed – 3 July
• Self-catering accommodation and second homes (without shared facilities) permitted – 3 July
• Outdoor hospitality (subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice) – 6 July

Phase 3 

• People can meet in extended groups outdoors with physical distancing – 10 July
• Households can meet indoors with up to a maximum of two other households (with physical distancing) – 10 July
• Organised outdoor contact sports can resume for children and young people (subject to guidance) – 13 July
• All dental practices begin to see registered patients for non-aerosol routine care – 13 July
• Increasing capacity within community optometry practices for emergency and essential eye care – 13 July
• Non-essential shops inside shopping centres can re-open (following guidance and with physical distancing) – 13 July
• All holiday accommodation permitted (following relevant guidance) – 15 July
• Indoor hospitality (subject to physical distancing rules and public health advice) – 15 July
• Hairdressers and barbers – with enhanced hygiene measures – 15 July
• Museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments, libraries – with physical distancing and other measures (e.g. ticketing in advance) – 15 July
• All childcare providers can open subject to individual provider arrangements – 15 July