Nicola Sturgeon: beer gardens still banned as Scotland enters phase two of lockdown

Many Scottish pubs and restaurants had been hoping for the green light to reopen in the First Minister’s announcement today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that beer gardens and other outdoor hospitality venues will not be allowed to reopen as Scotland enters Phase 2 of its lockdown easing plan.

Speaking in Parliament this afternoon, Ms Sturgeon called restaurants “hotspots” for the virus, and said it was too early for them to reopen.

“There is emerging evidence that places such as pubs, restaurants and gyms can be hotspots for transmission.

“It is important that we better understand this evidence, and what further mitigation might be necessary to protect people in such spaces, before we permit them to open.

“I appreciate this will be hard for the hospitality industry. I want to give an assurance to businesses in that sector that we will continue to support preparations for reopening – for example by encouraging local authorities to facilitate the use of open outdoor spaces which pubs and restaurants can use for additional space.”

Thousands of pubs and restaurants across Scotland had been hoping for the green light to restart after the Scottish government’s “route map” of the lockdown easing, published last month, suggested beer gardens would be allowed in Phase 2.

They will now have to wait until July 2, when officials are next set to review lockdown restrictions.

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