Coronavirus in Scotland: Aberdeen pub where football celebrations were rife has licence extended

A pub in the north east that received a swathe of complaints after crowds of football fans were seen celebrating the Scotland vs Serbia win has had its temporary licence extended.

Fans were videoed jumping around and hugging each other at the Draft Project in Aberdeen after the Tartan Army secured a place in next year’s Euro Championships on November 12.

It has been reported more than one hundred complaints about the pub were fired to the Aberdeen Licensing Board due to the blatant lack of social distancing regulations in place at the venue.

The licencing watchdog has now approved the occasional licence, according to the BBC, but the pub is subject to additional conditions including no televised sport.

Scotland players celebrate their victory in the Euro 2020 playoff final soccer match between Serbia and Scotland, at the Rajko Mitic stadium in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Councillors on the licensing board were tied 3-3 on whether to renew the permission or not, but convener Marie Boulton made the final decision to extend the temporary licence, which will be in operation until 4 December.

A spokesman for PB Devco, which run the pop-up bar, told the BBC that owners were concerned about the footage of exuberant fans flouting social distancing regulations.

Soul Bar in Aberdeen, which is also run by the same company, hit the headlines earlier this year when eight Aberdeen FC players visited the venue in breach of the coronavirus rules.

Scotland’s victory over Serbia meant the national team is heading to the Euros next year – the first time in 23 years.

The Tartan Army will face England, Croatia and the Czech Republic in Group D at next summer's finals.

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