Police officers spoke to the owners of a Leith pub after the bar partially reopened to sell draught beer at 'scandalously low' prices during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.
The Malt & Hops pub on the Shore previously posted a message to their Facebook page saying:
"2-3pm Wed, Frid, Sat. Cask & Draught available at scandalously low prices. Grab yourself a container & enjoy a proper pint. Social distancing, one in at a time, all that good stuff. Support the local. Cheers."
Police confirmed that they did receive one complaint about the business selling the 'social distancing pints', but officers said that they were allowed to continue to operate a takeaway service and that they haven't breached the legislation.
Pubs and restaurants in Scotland have been ordered to remain closed under the emergency coronavirus lockdown measures, with police given powers to fine businesses who do not comply.
At present there is no set date for lockdown to be lifted or normal life to resume, but a report by The Sun has stated that pubs and restaurants face closure until Christmas to tackle the spread of COVID-19.
Mr Gove told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show: "We have stressed that the reporting in today's newspapers that schools will reopen on May 11, that is not true, we have not made that decision."
Asked about when pubs and restaurants would be back in business, Mr Gove said: "The other inference that I draw from your question, which is that areas of hospitality will be among the last to exit the lockdown - yes, that is true, they will be among the last."
Some pub owners have spoken to Edinburgh Live over their fears they might never reopen if that is the case, as they are still being charged rent on their premises. Perhaps operating as 'beer takeaways' could help, if this model is allowed to take place.
Police Scotland told Edinburgh Live: "The pub was operating a takeaway service, with no drinking taking place on the premises. This is in accordance with the government guidance, so no further police action was taken."
This article originally said that three police cars 'swooped' on the pub on 22 April. Police Scotland have confirmed that although they have spoken to the pub's owners, the police officers were responding to a separate incident that was unrelated to the pub's ongoing activity. Edinburgh Live would like to apologise for this error.
