Scotland Reopening RECAP: Coronavirus lockdown eases across Scotland, pubs, shops and gyms reopen, loved ones are reunited on Monday April 26
The country moves from Level 4 to Level 3 of the Scottish Government’s five tiers of restrictions on April 26.
You can follow along with our dedicated live blog for all the latest updates throughout the day.
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.
Scotland Reopening LIVE: Coronavirus lockdown eases across Scotland, pubs, shops and gyms reopen, loved ones are reunited on Monday April 26
Key Events
- Country moves from Level 4 to Level 3
- Pub pints and museum visits are back
- Gyms, swimming pools, libraries can reopen
Special edition of The Big Issue as vendors return to the streets in Scotland
A special schools edition of The Big Issue has been created to mark the return of the magazine’s vendors across Scotland for the first time after 24 weeks of lockdown.
A supplement is included in all copies of the national edition, with additional copies being sold by young people in schools across Scotland.
The publication has partnered with the Social Enterprise Academy, which gives young people a hands-on experience in running a business with a social purpose.
The new edition, on sale from Monday, looks at ways that young people have contributed to their communities during the pandemic.
Events included a “hot chocolate Thursday” at Broughton High School in Edinburgh, to encourage students to gather in the playground and share a hot drink, while St Bernard’s Primary in Glasgow donated food items and made personalised bottles of hand sanitiser.
Social Enterprise Academy chief executive Neil McLean said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with The Big Issue again this year and I hope readers are inspired by the active role young people have played to help keep their communities connected, healthy and environmentally sustainable over this incredibly difficult last year of the pandemic.
“The stories in this magazine highlight how pupils have shown real resilience and entrepreneurial spirit by pivoting their social enterprises to continue supporting their communities throughout Covid-19.
“At a time when a minority of young people have been in the news for the wrong reasons, it’s wonderful to see the character, creativity and caring of all of these young social entrepreneurs.”
Museums and galleries reopen as coronavirus restrictions ease
Galleries and museums around the country are reopening as coronavirus restrictions ease.
From April 26 indoor attractions and public buildings such as museums, galleries and libraries are allowed to reopen as Scotland moves from Level 4 to Level 3 of the Scottish Government’s five tiers of coronavirus restrictions.
Museums ranging from the Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow to the National Museum of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two) in Edinburgh are among those opening their doors again on Monday.
A new campaign to help the public find their nearest gallery and champion Scotland’s contemporary art and studio facilities has also been launched.
The #ArtUnlocks campaign, organised by Scottish Contemporary Art Network (Scan), will highlight the cultural opportunities in neighbourhoods across Scotland.
In Edinburgh, Dovecot Gallery presents a brand new show of work by Scotland’s “forgotten pop artist”, Archie Brennan.
Opening on April 26, Archie Brennan: Tapestry Goes Pop! celebrates Pop artist, weaver, and former Mr Scotland Archie Brennan who is described as someone who changed the course of modern weaving.
Sculpture park Jupiter Artland near Edinburgh is already open to visitors, and on May 8 will unveil a brand new work by Rachel Maclean, who represented Scotland at the Venice Biennale in 2017, while visitors will also be able to see four landmark works made by the artist during the last decade.
In Dundee, artist Emma Talbot, who won the 2020 Max Mara Art Prize, will present her first ever solo show in Scotland, “Ghost Calls”, which opens at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) on April 28.
Pubs and restaurants ‘will struggle to break even’ amid uncertainty over rules
Many pubs and restaurants will struggle to break even owing to reduced capacities and rules that “don’t make sense”, hospitality bosses have warned.
One pub chief said he can open only a third of his venues at a fraction of their total capacity, and that many owners are having “sleepless nights” and are “bricking it that they are not going to get through this”.
From Monday in Scotland, pubs, cafes and restaurants can reopen outdoors, serving alcohol to groups of up to six from as many households.
Indoor service is restricted to groups of up to six from up to two households until 8pm, but no alcohol can be served inside.
Nic Wood, director of the Signature Pubs group, which has 24 venues and employs more than 700 staff across the country, criticised the logic around some of the rules.
He also voiced concern that health inspectors responsible for policing the Covid-compliance of venues are now scrutinising “around 10 different points we didn’t consider last year”.
Mr Wood said: “They say the rules haven’t changed, but the people who police it are looking at different aspects, which means it has.”
Health minister Nadine Dorries dismissed claims that Boris Johnson had said he would rather see “bodies pile high in their thousands” than face a third lockdown.
Edinburgh reopening: Watch dozens of shoppers queue along Princes Street as Primark reopens its doors
Watch dozens of shoppers queue along Princes Street as Primark reopens its doors
Dozens of shoppers queue outside of Primark as shops in Edinburgh open up for the first time in months.
Coronavirus in Scotland: Scots prepare to travel to England as border reopens
'We've had lots of calls from people with Scottish accents booking tables' - Scots prepare to travel as border reopens
With the travel restrictions lifting in Scotland on Monday, hospitality venues not just across the country, but in the North of England, are preparing for holiday makers desperate to flea the city and embrace new surroundings.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.