Scottish and Welsh pubs reopen despite 'nonsense' rules
In Wales, hospitality businesses are only permitted to reopen for outdoor trade, similar to their English counterparts' resumption of trade on Monday 12 April.
Up to six people from six households can meet up for a pint in a beer garden in Wales.
John and Sarah at the Dolphin Inn in Llanymynech are welcoming back their regulars later today...Pubs, cafes and restaurants in Wales can reopen to customers outdoors and wedding receptions can again be held outdoors with up to 30 people pic.twitter.com/07ltYhdApV
— Nick Dixon (@NickDixonITV) April 26, 2021
In Scotland, pubs can sell alcohol outdoors subject to local licensing laws to a maximum group of six people from six households.
While pubs can also open indoors, they are banned from selling alcohol.
Up to six people from two households can socialise inside a pub or restaurant until an 8pm curfew.
Trade is unviable for many venues across the two nations under these restrictions, trade bodies and operators have said.
The Society of Independent Brewers' (SIBA) CEO James Calder called the rules "nonsense" on social media.
Good luck to all those pubs bars and taprooms opening outside in Wales and Scotland today. Punters: be patient!
— James Calder (@jmcalder101) April 26, 2021
After 4 months shut and nonsense curfew and alcohol bans still in place we’ve much to do.
But this is beginning.
Referring to the reopening in Scotland, UKHospitality boss Kate Nicholls tweeted that outdoor capacity was “the exception rather than the norm.”
But let's not forget that outside is still the exception rather than the norm in Scotland - just 1 in 5 pubs, bars and restaurants have outside areas compared with 2 in 5 across the UK - and that we still have a long way to go before restrictions are fully lifted in July
— Kate Nicholls (@UKHospKate) April 26, 2021
Funerals and weddings, including receptions, may occur with up to 50 people and may serve alcohol.
This has frustrated many in the pub sector and Stephen Montgomery, spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitality Group previously said the rule was “ridiculous”.
“You can toast the bride and groom in the function suite but you can’t have a glass of wine on a first date in the restaurant next door,” he added.
Indoor reopening
Scottish operators must wait until the next level of lockdown easing in the country before they can serve alcohol indoors and open for longer, from 17 May.
Welsh pubs and bars will also be able to open indoors from 17 May after low Covid incidence, the First Minister has said.
The cautious estimation of reopening prior to the Spring Bank Holiday on 31 May had previously been made by Mark Drakeford.
Drakeford, however, told BBC Radio Wales last week that he felt up to 30 people would be able to meet indoors from 17 May if progress tackling the virus continued.
This is the date many trade groups had been lobbying the Government for and it is the same date English pubs will be able to reopen for indoor service, providing criteria on tackling the virus is met.
- Do you operate a pub business in Wales or Scotland? If you are reopening this week or unable to, please get in touch on rzvyl.unjxvaf@jeoz.pbz with your experience.
