Scotland

Scotland to lift all major restrictions in early August

23-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

All major Covid restrictions will be scrapped on Monday 9 August in Scotland as “a very significant degree of normality will be restored,” the First Minister has said.

A third of independent licensed venues still shut

21-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

About two thirds (66.9%) of independent venues in the on-trade have now reopened compared to 93.1% of managed sites, research has found.

‘Toxic culture letter 100% my fault’ says BrewDog’s James Watt

18-Jun-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

BrewDog co-founder James Watt has taken responsibility for the company’s culture and stated the letter, claiming the business had a “toxic culture” was his fault.

English and Scottish pubs to miss out on £3.2m during Euros match

18-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in England and Scotland are set to lose out on revenue of £3.2m during today (Friday 18 June), when the two nations go head to head in the UEFA Euros football tournament.

Scottish pubs in ‘never-ending hell’ after delayed unlocking

16-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Scottish Government has been told the hospitality sector is at a “breaking point” with trading restrictions set to continue into the summer.

Delay to lockdown easing signalled for Scotland

15-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

First minister Nicola Sturgeon has suggested the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in Scotland may be pushed back by three weeks.

BrewDog apologises after 'toxic’ culture claims

10-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

BrewDog co founder James Watt has apologised to staff after an open letter claimed employees across different departments shared a “residual feeling of fear.”

Twenty-fold increase in draft installs sees Innis & Gunn 'back with a bang'

09-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Scottish brewer and bar operator Innis & Gunn revealed that a strong showing in Q2 has left it tracking 42% ahead of budget following high demand after the reopening of the Scottish on-trade.

BrewDog and pub partners pledge 15% carbon cut in the next year

09-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

Independent brewer and bar operator BrewDog has joined forces with hospitality businesses including Brewhouse & Kitchen, Urban Village Pubs and Pub Love to work towards a carbon neutral on-trade.

Rethink curfew during Euros, Scottish pubs urge

07-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish pub staff could face abuse when forced to kick out football fans during the middle of Euros matches because of curfew laws, a trade group has said.

Government 'open minded' about furlough extension

04-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Government is “open minded” over extending furlough beyond September, a minister has said.

BBPA outlines pub tactics ahead of UEFA Euro 2020

02-Jun-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

As operators count down to UEFA Euro 2020’s curtain raiser on 11 June, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has produced practical guidance for pubs in an effort to assist safe and successful screenings this summer.

Big Interview – UEFA Euro 2020 Countdown

Sporting comeback: UEFA Euro 2020 pub trading can match 2016 tournament levels

02-Jun-2021 By Stuart Stone

As UEFA Euro 2020 kicks off, John Gemmell of the competition’s official beer partner, Heineken, talks pub trade tactics and Scotland’s major tournament return.

'Deflation' after lockdown easing halted for Scottish central belt

01-Jun-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Many pub operators have been left disappointed by news that areas in the central belt of Scotland are to be held back from further lockdown easing.

lockdown live

• LIVE: Vaccine progress signals removal of restrictions 'without delay'

24-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Coronavirus latest: sector bosses have expressed confidence in 19 July 'freedom day' after figures show Britain leading on first doses.

Continued restrictions in Glasgow 'terribly distressing'

19-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

One pub operator has described being £18,000 down after the reopening of Glasgow pubs was delayed.

Pubs reopen as caution urged over virus variant

17-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs are to reopen their doors for punters after months of closure today (Monday 17 May) as Brits are urged to remain cautious about the virus.

Pubs allowed to serve alcohol indoors in Scotland

11-May-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish pubs will be permitted to serve customers pints inside from next week, after the next easing of lockdown rules was confirmed.

In association with Heineken

UEFA EURO 2020™: ‘A massive opportunity to claw back some of the money we've lost’

10-May-2021 By The Morning Advertiser

Having been side-lined for the best part of a year, pub operators from England, Scotland and Wales see this summer’s UEFA EURO 2020™ as a potential gamechanger. Here, four operators discuss their tournament tactics.

Curfew could represent ‘survival or bankruptcy’ for Scottish pubs

27-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) has called on the Scottish Government to slash the 8pm curfew if positive progress with tackling the pandemic continues.

Star to continue rent reductions in Scotland

27-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Star Pubs & Bars has said it will continue its rent reductions for its sites in Scotland, as the sector braces for the first week of trade after lockdown.

Scottish and Welsh pubs reopen despite 'nonsense' rules

26-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in Wales and Scotland are allowed to reopen for outdoor service today (Monday 26 April) after months of shutdown.

lockdown live

• LIVE: Gov keen to scrap 1m social distancing rule

26-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Coronavirus latest: the Prime Minister is keen to lift social distancing rules for hospitality venues next month, it has been reported

Scotland’s Tied Pubs Bill transition period ‘could take up to two years’

23-Apr-2021 By Stuart Stone

An update from the Pub Governing Body Scotland has stressed that its services to operators will not be affected by the implementation of the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill.

Scottish pubs given green light for reopening

21-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in Scotland will be able to reopen next week, it was confirmed by the First Minister.

Scottish operators despair over draft guidance

20-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Draft guidelines for the reopening of Scottish hospitality businesses have been met with opposition from the pub sector.

‘Bring forward reopening,’ Welsh Government urged

16-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Indoor hospitality in Wales should reopen alongside trade in England and Scotland next month, one industry body has suggested.

Scottish pubs 'unfairly targeted' by alcohol rules

14-Apr-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Calls continue to mount for a relaxation of rules about serving alcohol when pubs reopen in Scotland.

Welsh pubs will 'fall at final hurdle' without more support

31-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pub operators in Wales have urged the First Minister to issue additional grant support, similar to what has been offered to English and Scottish businesses.

Jobs round-up

Board changes at JW Lees, Former Liberation MD launches consultancy, bar staff vaccines

31-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Two family members have stepped down from roles at north west-based brewer and pub operator JW Lees, while the former managing director of Channel Island-based Liberation Group, Christine Oxford, has launched an independent support service for businesses.

MSPs pass Bill to reform Scotland's tied pubs

24-Mar-2021 By Stuart Stone

Members of Scottish Parliament have passed The Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill heralding the creation of a statutory pubs code and an independent adjudicator role.

Opinion

Tied Pubs Bill changes the fabric of Scottish pub landscape ‘forever’

23-Mar-2021 By Edith Monfries, Scottish Beer & Pub Association president and COO of Hawthorn

Today (23 March) is a date that will go down in history for all the wrong reasons.

MA’s review of the Week

‘We can see the light and want to make a plan – but need detail’

19-Mar-2021 By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser's Ed Bedington speaks with Clubhouse Bars director Iain Pert to reflect on some of the week's biggest headlines.

Review alcohol rules and curfews, Scottish Government urged

17-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Pubs in Scotland have been served a “bitter blow” after it was announced they can reopen from the end of April but cannot serve alcohol indoors.

Scottish pubs can reopen outdoors from 26 April

16-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish pubs will begin to reopen from Monday 26 April, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced.

Allow all Scottish pubs to serve alcohol after lockdown, sector urges

15-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish trade associations have called on the Government to change its levels system for hospitality and allow all pubs to serve alcohol.

Scottish Government evidence for pub shutdown 'deeply unconvincing'

05-Mar-2021 By Emily Hawkins

The Scottish Government has failed to provide any specific evidence to justify the restrictions it imposed on the hospitality sector when pressed, according to one trade body.

Scottish pubs left with ‘more questions than answers’ on reopening

24-Feb-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish pub operators and trade groups have said they still feel left in the dark by the Scottish Government’s announcement about when pubs can be expected to reopen.

Business rates relief extended for Scottish pubs

16-Feb-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Full relief on business rates for the hospitality sector will be extended for another year in Scotland, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes announced today (16 February).

Study on pub virus transmission slammed as 'out-of-date witch hunt'

16-Feb-2021 By Emily Hawkins

University research claiming Scottish pubs were lax with coronavirus measures this summer has been rebuked by pub trade bodies, who claim the study’s sample size is not representative.

Business rates relief extended in Scotland

28-Jan-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Business rates relief will be extended for Scottish pubs for an initial three months as Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been urged to enable a further extension for all pubs.

Scottish pubs to be banned from serving takeaways indoors

13-Jan-2021 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs in Scotland will no longer be able to serve takeaways indoors and can only operate from a hatch or doorway as of Saturday (16 January).

£25k in grants for Scottish pubs, versus £9k for England's

13-Jan-2021 By Emily Hawkins

Scottish operators are to receive top-up Government support grants of up to £25,000.

Innis & Gunn signs distribution and sales deal, with C&C taking 8% share

07-Jan-2021 By Nicholas Robinson

Scottish craft brewer Innis & Gunn has signed a new long-term sales and distribution deal with manufacturer C&C to sell its beers in the UK and Ireland.

Scottish rescue package ‘marred by payback measures’

22-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Scotland’s pub sector has welcomed details of further Government support but said provision must be urgently reviewed in light of a new lockdown.

'Pubs matter' is message of new campaign

14-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Pubgoers have been urged to share why their local is close to their heart on social media in a bid to highlight the plight of the sector.

Just 42% of Scotland’s pubs and bars able to open

09-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Fewer than half of Scotland’s pubs and bars will be able to open under new rules, meaning many businesses will miss out on festive trade.

Financial support for Welsh pubs to outstrip English and Scottish counterparts several times over

04-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The average Welsh pub will receive four times as much grant funding as Scottish sites and more than three times that of the average English pub during the festive period, new research has found.

lockdown live

Pubs hit by tier four closures in 'longest winter in living memory'

02-Dec-2020 By Emily Hawkins

As pubs adapt to new coronavirus measures, The Morning Advertiser will bring you the latest updates and reaction on this live blog.

Analysis

What financial support is available to UK pubs this winter?

01-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that England would be plunged into its third national lockdown in an address on 4 January, The Morning Advertiser rounds up what funding is available across the UK.