Tourism leaders order early start to Sunday drinks

Published on Thursday 24 March 2011 14:54

Scotland's national tourism agency has called for Edinburgh pubs to be allowed to open before lunchtime on Sundays in order to boost the Capital's economy.

Bosses at VisitScotland have written to licensing leaders urging them to accept pubs' demands to open earlier.

The appeal was in support of a renewed call by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, which wants rules preventing pubs opening before 12.30pm to be relaxed.

A series of Scottish authorities have changed rules that stopped pubs from serving alcohol before 12.30pm, including Aberdeen and Dundee.

Edinburgh's licensing board has previously refused to adjust its policy, despite numerous calls to allow pubs to open at 11am or even earlier.

Manuela Calchini, regional director for VisitScotland, said: "VisitScotland welcomes initiatives which will help the tourism sector grow, particularly in the current economic climate.

"We are happy to support the request by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association to introduce a slightly earlier opening time on Sunday mornings to allow early diners to order an alcoholic drink with their lunch."

Pubs around Tynecastle, Easter Road and Murrayfield, as well as those that screen live football, are among the premises to want the option of earlier opening on a Sunday.

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said: "In a cosmopolitan city like Edinburgh, pubs should be allowed to open earlier.

"It is not all about drink, it is about giving the pubs the opportunity to open because part of the tourism experience in the city is the food offering. If you are not open until later you can miss out on some of that.

"We do not think that there would be an adverse effect so we think the licensing board should look again at 11am Sunday opening. This (12.30pm opening] is a legacy from a previous time, when it was a tradition that people did not open because of church and such like.

"At one time not that long ago, city centres were closed on Sundays, but we have moved away from that and pubs should be allowed to as well."

Patrick Browne, chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association, added: "Our view is that the board has got it wrong. There are premises that can trade before 12.30pm, such as some members clubs, hotels and restaurants, so it seems unfair to have it for them and not others. The biggest anomaly is off-sales, which are allowed to open from 10am on a Sunday."

The city council reaffirmed its policy on Sunday trading hours as part of its overall statement of licensing policy, published in November 2010.

A council spokesman said: "We consulted widely with the public on this issue and took the views of local residents and the police. It was agreed that the 12.30pm opening hours worked well for the city in providing a respite from the later weekend hours."