Struggling to get a beer garden booking now that things are definitely opening up next week? Yeah, we know the feeling.
Never fear however, as one Edinburgh local has created an interactive map showing venues in the capital who have outdoor drinking space for al fresco bevvies.
Now we're not just talking pubs and bars - this list has restaurants, cafes, hotels and more (which can be overlooked for the more well-known beer gardens in the capital) that have space for you to grab a pint in the great outdoors ( of Edinburgh's streets ).
Matthew Cusworth, who works for spirits and wines company Brown Forman, set up the map to as a counter to "Edinburgh's reputation for limited beer gardens."
He told Edinburgh Live : "Towards the end of 2020 the hospitality industry was once again placed under tight restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic - I wanted to try and help our local bars and restaurants keep their businesses afloat, so I created a custom Google Map highlighting all the venues that were offering takeaway drinks when they could not allow customers to stay on premise.
"That map amassed 87,000 views and hopefully made a difference in footfall and sales for many of our local favourites.
" With restrictions finally easing and outdoor drinking permitted, I decided to make a new map - this time showcasing all the venues that have outdoor spaces for drinks.
"Edinburgh has historically had a reputation for limited beer gardens and alfresco drinking options, but I know many venues have adapted over the last year to survive.
"I wanted to bring all those amazing bars, pubs and restaurants to people’s attention and help them to start pouring drinks again!".
From Monday next week (April 26) all hospitality can reopen to customers, with venues allowed to open outdoors with the sale of alcohol until 10pm and indoors without the sale of alcohol permitted until 8pm.
The map has already amassed over 50 venues - check out the interactive map (and get yourself a booking for next week!) here .
