SCOTLAND’S beer gardens look set to remain closed until July.
Pubs with outdoor spaces had hoped that the move into phase two would mean they could re-open this weekend, but Nicola Sturgeon yesterday told MSPs that it wasn’t yet safe enough to do so.
The industry reacted with dismay to the news, with the Scottish Licensed Trade Association describing it as a “bitter blow”.
Speaking at Holyrood, Sturgeon said she hoped to be able to set out when pubs could re-open by July 2.
She said: “Another change that was envisaged in the route map for phase two was the re-opening of outdoor hospitality, such as beer gardens. Unfortunately, I am not able to give a date for that just yet.
“We may be able to set a date later that is within phase two, but I have commissioned further advice from our Scientific Advisory Group to inform this decision.
“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.”
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She added: “I understand the desire of all businesses to re-open quickly – however it is vital than when services and venues do re-open, they do so safely and in a way that is consistent with continued suppression of the virus.
“That is how we best avoid a resurgence of the virus that could lead to businesses having to close all over again.”
The Scottish Licensed Trade Association’s managing director, Colin Wilkinson was dismayed by the decision: “The First Minister’s announcement today is a bitter blow for Scotland’s hospitality sector, which expected to be able to now kick-start the rebuilding of the industry.
He added: “Without question, health and safety must come before profit but the First Minister’s comment that ‘there is emerging evidence that places such as pubs, restaurants and gyms can be hotspots for transmission’ will do nothing to alleviate customer confidence in returning to our pubs and bars.”
The First Minister also announced a review on whether the two-metre limit could be reduced to one metre – a key request of the industry.
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