Scotland's hospitality sector permitted to reopen from 26 April if COVID-19 cases decline

Cafes and restaurants will be able to open outdoors until 10pm.

Scotland’s hospitality sector will be permitted to start reopening from 26 April if COVID-19 cases continue to decline, according to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon,

Cafes and restaurants will be able to open outdoors until 10pm from the said date and sell alcohol.

However, indoor hospitality can only open until 8pm, alcohol will not be allowed and people must meet in groups of up to four people from two households.

Reacting to the announcement, UKHospitality’s Scotland’s executive director Willie Macleod said the sector “needs clarification” and will be waiting for the Scottish government to confirm that hotels are included in this.

He noted that clarification was needed around indoor hospitality and specifically the 8pm curfew and whether it will be extended to hotel residents.

“There is a lot to unpack from the First Minister’s announcement and, as ever, we are going to need to see the detail. We had put forward a reopening proposition to the Scottish Government which would have given us more flexibility, but at least we do now have a plan,” Macleod said.

“There is, however, going to be significant disappointment from businesses that hospitality will be so tightly restricted in the first weeks of the reopening. Restricting outdoor spaces to just six people from three households will likewise be a significant barrier to viability. The curfews, 10pm for outdoors and 8pm for indoors, will also seriously restrict businesses’ ability to break even. These businesses are, in many cases, only just clinging on.”

Photo credit: Bella Italia