Regulations on planning are being temporarily relaxed to support the industry to safely restart as the country emerges from lockdown.
To allow businesses and their customers adhere to physical distancing measures, areas such as public footpaths may be used for seating, and could also include structures such as open-sided gazebos.
The Scottish Engineer on Telford Road reopens this afternoon.
They said: “We are delighted to announce the re-opening of our beer garden on July 6th at 3pm. We’ve been working hard to make our venues safe and properly socially distanced. We thought it might be best to let you know about some of things we are putting in place to keep everyone safe and in line with current government legislation.
– At the moment, vertical drinking (standing up with your pint) is not allowed in beer gardens. This means that in order to be served, our customers must be seated at a table.
– When you arrive, one of our lovely staff will find you a table.
– When we have reached our seating capacity, we will implement a queuing system on a first come, first served basis.
– Customers with restricted mobility will have priority for seating.
– Our maximum single group size is 6 people and these groups should not comprise more than 2 separate households.
– Tables cannot be reserved in advance.
– Our toilet facilities will be available though only one person may use the male or female facilities at any one time and we will have a system in place to oversee this.
– Our staff have all been fully trained in COVID suppression and mitigation. We’ll be looking resplendent in our shiny new PPE.
– Drinks will be served using table service only.
– We will have fully contactless ordering available via our new app (keep your eyes on social media for details)
– We will have all of our usual payment and ordering methods available, cards and cash. This said, we’d like to recommend contactless payment where possible.
– We are going to have plenty of signage to help us all stay socially distanced and safe.
– Drinks will be served in single use and disposable containers. We want to ensure 100% recycling of these containers and ask for your help in doing so.
– Food will not be available until we have fully reopened the internal aspects of the venue.
– We are a family venue and children are always welcome. At this time however it’s important to say a few things about our younger customers. If you are planning on bringing children to the venue, the same rules on social distancing will apply. They will need to be happy to be seated at your table and unfortunately won’t be free to mingle.
We need to strictly implement our new measures in order that we keep everyone safe and on the correct side of government legislation. Our staff have been fully trained in order to help with any queries you may have.
‘We’ve been waiting so long to see everyone. We can barely wait. We’ve missed you all, we’ve all been thirsty, we’ve missed the laughs and the camaraderie. One thing that’s been apparent while we’ve been gone is that the Scottish Engineer is the beating heart of our community. It’s time to get it racing again.’
The Olde Inn and The Norhet in Davidson’s Mains will both be welcoming customers old and new when they open their doors today.
The Olde Inn team said: “We’re expecting a big demand so here are the important guidelines to help you and us!
– Food will be served 12-9pm, if you want to book a table for food you need to call us on 0131 336 2437. You will need to provide us with the names and contact details for EVERYONE in your party. We can only reserve your table for a 2 hour slot, Eg- 12-2pm etc. Table reservations are for food only, not drinks. No time limit on drinks!
– Drinks are first come, first served we unfortunately can not reserve areas for just drinks.
– Kids, kids are welcome however they must be sat in their seat at all times due to guidelines we are unable to allow the kids to be running and playing in the garden!
We really appreciate all your help with this, as I’m sure you can all understand it’s a new system for us and we’re trying to make it as easy for all of you.
So please get in touch if you’re wanting to book for food 0131 336 2437, if you’re just wanting a drink our doors will be open and we’ll see you in the garden on Monday!
Planning Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Scotland’s hospitality industry is vital to our economy which is why we took immediate steps to address the financial impact of COVID-19, including a £320 million support package specifically aimed at the tourism and hospitality sector.
“As the industry re-opens with physical distancing measures, we want to enable businesses to take steps to provide a safe and pleasant environment for customers.
“Local authorities are responsible for planning and we are already encouraging them to facilitate the use of open outdoor spaces which pubs and restaurants can use. We have also issued guidance to local licensing boards about how to sensitively and pragmatically deal with requests to use outdoor space for the sale of alcohol.
“Relaxing planning controls on a temporary basis will give even more flexibility to allow businesses to operate, and for some normality to return to life within our communities.”
This updated guidance builds on previous public information that was included in a letter from the Chief Planner and Minister for Planning on May 29.
People are being encouraged to socialise safely as beer gardens and pavement cafes across Scotland re-open.
As the hospitality sector gradually eases out of lockdown new measures to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff will be in place including the collection of customer’s contact details to allow contact tracing if necessary.
Anyone planning on sitting-in during a trip to a beer garden or outdoor café will be asked to provide their name and contact telephone number to the business as well as logging the date and time of their visit.
In the event an individual who has been in such a venue tests positive for COVID-19, NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect service may ask for details of anyone present at the same time in order to contact them and advise them to isolate.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Edinburgh’s Cold Town House venue to see just some of the changes businesses are putting in place to ensure staff and customers can socialise safely.
The First Minister said: “The sacrifices made by the public have suppressed this virus, protected our health service and ultimately saved lives and I know those sacrifices have not always been easy.
“I hope that as we take these first gradual steps out of lockdown people will begin to feel more of the sense of normality that we have worked so hard for – although it is important to remember that the virus has not gone away so we cannot get complacent.
“No beer garden or café should feel the same as it did before. The vast majority of the hospitality industry will be following the rules and putting in place new procedures to help control the virus.
“People should look for those safety measures and be aware of the need to follow the FACTS at all times when out in the community. If you don’t see those safety measures, or you don’t feel you can follow appropriate hygiene rules, than don’t take the risk.
“If we continue to stick to the rules we will be able to drive the virus down further and live less restricted lives in the weeks and months ahead. Until then support local businesses if you can, socialise safely and make sure that while you enjoy yourself you also protect others.”
Stephen Montgomery, President of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, added: “The SLTA welcomes the reopening of our sector today, with the first phase, our beer gardens.
“We understand that there will be changes in place to reduce the spread of COVID-19 which we are sure customers will understand.
“We would encourage customers to keep to physical distancing measures and work with premises to ensure public health is maintained, including providing staff with contact details to support Test and Protect.”
Test and protect is Scotland’s approach to preventing the spread of coronavirus in the community.
Remember FACTS for a safer Scotland.
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