When do pubs, restaurants and cafes open in Scotland? Date hospitality venues can reopen in lockdown roadmap

Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed plans for the opening of restaurants and pubs from 26 April

Scotland’s first minister has confirmed further easing of lockdown will go ahead as planned on 26 April.

Addressing the Scottish Parliament on 20 April, Nicola Sturgeon reiterated plans for a significant relaxation of restrictions across retail, hospitality and travel.

This includes the reopening of pubs, restaurants and cafes from 26 April, with rules around alcohol consumption and opening times in place for the time being.

Pubs could reopen in Scotland in spring, though a roadmap out of lockdown has yet to be announced (Picture: Getty Images)

This is what you need to know about Scotland’s lockdown roadmap – and when you can go out for dinner and drinks again.

When will pubs and restaurants reopen?

From Monday 26 April, hospitality venues such as cafés, pubs and restaurants can reopen, along with tourist accommodation, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

Cafés, pubs and restaurants can resume full outdoor service, subject to local licensing, and serve food indoors without alcohol until 8pm.

Up to six people from two households can socialise indoors in a public place such as a café or restaurant.

Takeaways can also resume normal service, with physical distancing and face masks in premises.

The first minister said: “The changes that come into force next week have been hard earned by all of us. I know that many will be looking forward – quite rightly – to their first drink in a beer garden, to catching up with a friend in a café, or to going on holiday somewhere in Scotland.

“But even as we enjoy those moments, we still need to be careful. We must remember the virus is more infectious now than it was when bars and cafés were last open, so we must still stick to the rules. However, we are hopeful of seeing sustained progress in the weeks and months ahead.”

When can alcohol be served indoors?

From 17 May, restrictions could be eased further to allow for indoor hospitality to serve alcohol and more people to congregate together.

In a briefing earlier this year, Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: “We would hope, from [17 May], to allow indoor hospitality to return to greater normality, with alcohol able to be served indoors and within more normal opening hours, though possibly with some continued restrictions - a requirement for people to book in two-hour slots, for example.

“The precise detail of any continued restrictions will depend on an assessment of the situation closer to the time.”

What else will open from 26 April?

Non-essential retail outlets and close contact services such as beauty salons can also reopen on 26 April, in addition to indoor attractions and public buildings such as galleries, museums and libraries.

Driving lessons and tests can take place, while gyms and swimming pools can reopen for individual exercise.

The First Minister confirmed that all parts of the country will move to Level 3 from Monday 26 April.

The remaining travel restrictions within Scotland will be lifted and travel within the UK will be permitted for any purpose.

Adults on the shielding list can return to the workplace, if they cannot work from home, while children who have been shielding can return to school.

Non-essential work inside people’s homes – such as painting, decorating or repairing – will be permitted, subject to mitigations, and non-essential informal childcare will resume.The attendance limit for funerals and weddings – and related events such as receptions – will increase to 50.

Who can get tested for Covid?

From 26 April, lateral flow home test kits will be available to anyone who does not have COVID-19 symptoms.

They can be picked up from local walk/drive-through test sites for people to test themselves twice-weekly.

Anyone in Scotland who develops COVID-19 symptoms should self-isolate and book a PCR test.

The expansion is aimed at finding cases that would otherwise go undetected, so those people can self-isolate and avoid transmitting the virus to those around them.