When beer gardens are expected to reopen in Scotland amid lockdown easing

Pubgoers in England have been enjoying their first pints at the bar for almost four months after beer gardens welcomed back punters today.

England moved to step two of its roadmap out of lockdown today - with the likes of non-essential retail and gyms reopening,

But the headline change to restrictions for many people is the reintroduction of the humble beer garden.

Hospitality can open for outdoor services, with no requirement to order a meal with an alcoholic drink and no curfew on closing.

Pubgoers south of the border have been enjoying their first pints in months today (SWNS)

Many Scots pubgoers will be watching on in jealousy today as their pals south of the border show off their trips to the local pub.

Pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes can currently only open for takeaway only in Scotland under current lockdown restrictions.

But it is expected that this will change towards the end of this month - with hospitality set to reopen indoors and outdoors from April 26 in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s timetable out of lockdown says that hospitality can open until 10pm outdoors from that date - with alcohol permitted.

Indoor hospitality is also expected to be allowed from April 26. However, alcohol will not be permitted and indoor settings must be closed at 8pm.

Six people from three households could be allowed to sit in beer gardens, while it is set to be restricted to four people from two households indoors.

Nicola Sturgeon is expected to make an announcement on the reopening of pubs during a coronavirus press briefing on April 20.

Nicola Sturgeon will update Scots on restrictions next week (Scottish Government/AFP via Gett)

Speaking at a press conference last week, the First Minister said: “If we continue to keep the virus under control, as I hope we will, we expect to be able to make further more significant changes on April 26.

“If we continue to follow the rules then I am very optimistic that we will continue to see progress and that will enable us to get more and more aspects of our life back to something that feels much more normal - which I know is what everybody, including me, is very desperate to see.”

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