Huge queues formed outside stores in Scotland today as all shops reopen and pubs welcome back thirsty customers indoors for the first time in months as Nicola Sturgeon finally eases the gruelling national lockdown.
Non-essential retail, gyms, swimming pools, libraries and museums, cafes, restaurants and beer gardens swung their doors open to the Scottish public this morning as virus cases, hospitalisations and deaths plummet.
In Wales, pubs, restaurants, bars, cafes and other hospitality businesses reopened for outdoor service today for the first time since December, with dozens of punters seen queueing up outside Boom Battle Bar in Cardiff’s Brewery Quarter for its midnight reopening last night.
One shopper at Primark on Princes Street in Edinburgh described how she was delighted to be able to head inside the store with her family for a browse. ‘It’s great fun, I got loads – jammies, a jacket, socks, a pair of jeans, stuff for the kids – they were running riot, they thought it was great,’ she told PA.
Funerals and weddings, including post-funeral events and receptions, can now take place with up to 50 people and alcohol permitted. But indoor hospitality will need to close at 8pm, while alcohol can only be served outside.
VisitScotland is calling on Scots to support the recovery of the tourism sector hammered by shutdowns by enjoying short breaks, days out and staycations in Scotland. CEO Malcolm Roughead said: ‘It is clear that tourism has been one of the greatest economic casualties of the pandemic.
‘We’ve had a year of very little investment, job losses and business closures – it will take time and significant investment to get us back to a thriving industry. With the right support, tourism and events can lead the economic recovery and boost inward investment where it’s needed most, but to do that the industry needs the support of people living in Scotland in the first instance.
‘Many businesses are reopening after months of no trade, and with staycations set to be popular again this year, there is a real opportunity for us all to rally round and show our support for local tourism.’
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) also urged people to support the retail sector. David Lonsdale, SRC director, said: ‘We encourage Scots to get out and visit their favourite shops over the coming weeks knowing every purchase they make and every item they buy is a local job supported and a high street helped.
‘Unlocking consumer spending will be central to Scotland’s economic recovery and to bouncing back quickly.’
Shoppers queue for Primark in Edinburgh reopening as Scotland eases lockdown restrictions
Shoppers seen queueing outside a Primark department store on Union Street in Aberdeen as the lockdown is eased
Lockdown restrictions have eased in Scotland meaning non-essential retail has now reopened
Welcome back: Customers arrive at a re-opened Wetherspoons pub in Glasgow earlier today
Bar workers prepare customers’ drinks orders at a re-opened Wetherspoons pub in Glasgow
Customers enjoy drinks as they sit at an outside table at a re-opened Wetherspoons pub in Glasgow
The Boom Battle Bar in Cardiff’s Brewery Quarter opens its doors for drinks and food after the lifting of lockdown restrictions
The Boom Battle Bar in Cardiff’s Brewery Quarter opens its doors for drinks and food after the lifting of lockdown
The Boom Battle Bar in Cardiff’s Brewery Quarter opens its doors for drinks and food after the lifting of lockdown
Lockdown restrictions are being relaxed further in Scotland. Pictured: Dorothy Torrance from the General Store in Selkirk
In Wales, the owners of Boom Battle Bar in Cardiff’s Brewery Quarter decided to make the most of the new found freedom by opening from midnight until 3am on the first day of trading.
The bar’s manager, James Finn, said Cardiff council as well as South Wales Police were aware of their plans to re-open at midnight. Officers from South Wales Police did visit the bar during its brief opening to ensure that all restrictions were being adhered to.
The Boom Battle Bar was the only pub to open at midnight to punters while the rest of the city centre remained deserted.
Mr Finn said: ‘We saw some of the bars in England that had done it and it just so happens that our licence allows us to trade during that time.
‘I’m sure there are a lot of premises whose licences don’t allow them to trade at that time so I’m sure there would be a few more open if they could. Some of the staff were really keen to do it as well so we thought we’d just go for it.’
The bar opened last November where axe throwing, hammerschiagen – a Bavarian game in which nails are knocked into tree stump with a hammer – and arcade games were part of its in-house entertainment.
However on opening night – and due to restrictions meaning customers could only be seated outside – only food and drink was served.
Mr Finn said: ‘We opened last year between the two lockdowns and we caught some of the autumn internationals which was amazing.
‘I’ve grown up in Cardiff so I know it well as a city but we only got to open two or three weeks during that time which was tough. We had a really great reaction, it was just a shame that we only had that limited time.
‘Over the week we’re sort of looking at 250 to 300 people booked in a day with Saturday being the busiest.
‘The last week has been anticipation, getting ready for it. Previously we had a lot of guidance and things to prepare for – whether that’s track and trace systems, one way systems, whatever it might be that the government thinks will make it the safest space.
‘So this time there was a bit of anticipation of what may come out prior to opening.’
At the front of the queue ready for their first drink were friends Kyle Hill, Tom Virgo, Holly Khan, Craig Datzell who arrived just before midnight.
‘We’re very very eager to come for a drink,’ said Holly. ‘We had a couple of drinks before hand while prepping and getting ready.
‘There’s definitely the novelty of leading up to midnight – you’ll never be able to say again ‘I went back to the pub for the first time at midnight.’
While some people had planned ahead for the grand opening night, for others it was a last minute excuse for a night out. Friends Meeta Halai, Ellie Thomas and Lois Roberts booked just an hour before arriving.
Lois said: ‘We just wanted to make the most of being able to come out finally. We haven’t really been out this year so it’s exciting. It was really last minute – we booked in about an hour before we came.’
Just 30 minutes after re-opening, all 60 pre-booked slots had arrived at their tables as well as a few walk-ins who decided to try their luck. The bar catered for several different group sizes and masks had to be worn at all times unless sat down.
Kacper Wieczorek lives nearby and said he had been watching in anticipation as the bar set up. ‘We were super excited, we’ve been planning our first pint for months and we actually live nearby so have been watching everything get set up and as soon as we realised it was opening tonight we thought ‘yes we’re going’.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) declared last week that cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and gyms can get back up and running next week, hailing the success of the vaccine rollout
‘We cycled from Merthyr to Brecon then back to Cardiff today so we deserve this pint.’
In a coronavirus press briefing on Friday, Mark Drakeford suggested that indoor hospitality should be able to reopen from May 17, as it will in England. But any decisions coming into force after May 6 are dependent on who is in government as the Senedd election takes place on that day.
Friends Sam Petterson and Theo Ellis were also at Boom Battle Bar to enjoy their first taste of freedom as restrictions eased.
Sam said: ‘It’s been a long year and my view is we’ve spent the whole year making a lot of sacrifices which I absolutely understand for the sake of people who absolutely need us to.
‘But it’s been a very long time, I think a lot of people have given up on what is permissible and what is not but now that we can it’s good to get back out.’
Ellis said: ‘It made sense to lock ourselves away for the health of others, however it’s been a year and now we are able to get back out there and do something which feels a bit ‘normal’.’
James Wilson, owner of Boom Battle Bar, said: ‘After being in lockdown for six months we thought ‘why not’ – we’ve got the licence to run it for a couple of hours and everyone is waiting for a drink so we thought why not.
‘We’ve had a decent response. Midnight on Sunday is always going to be tough but we’ve pulled in a bit of a crowd so we’re happy to host.
‘We saw the pubs in England doing it and I think we thought nobody else in Cardiff would do it so we thought we would give it a go.’
From May 3, gyms and leisure centres in Wales can reopen, and people can form extended households with one other household – while indoor supervised activities for children, indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults like exercise classes, and reopening community centres are also being brought forward from May 17 to May 3.
Beer gardens in Wales will also open after being closed since December 4 (pictured in Cardiff)
First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) said indoor hospitality and all tourist accommodation in Wales could reopen on May 17 were he to lead the country after the May 6 Senedd election
Indoor mixing in England will not be permitted until at least May 17 when groups of six people or up to two households will be allowed to meet indoors while the rule of six will be scrapped for outdoor gatherings.
From today in Scotland, people will be able to meet others for a meal or drink, with up to six people from two households allowed to socialise indoors in a public place such as a cafe or restaurant.
Other changes include the resumption of driving lessons and tests while close contact services, such as beauty parlours, can also return.
Travel between Scotland, England and Wales will be permitted and tourist accommodation can welcome back visitors.
This means people can travel between the three countries for short breaks as long as households do not mix in rooms.
Non-essential work inside people’s homes – such as painting, decorating or repairing – can take place.
Adults on the shielding list can return to the workplace if they cannot work from home, while children who have been shielding can go back to school.
When Wales went into lockdown on December 20, hospitality businesses were forced to close, but could continue to offer takeaways.
Today’s easing of hospitality rules comes as other restrictions were eased on Saturday, allowing any six people to meet up outdoors.
Children under 11 years of age are not included in the new six-household limit, nor are carers from those households.
Meeting people from other households indoors is still not allowed except for a limited number of circumstances.
From May 3, gyms and leisure centres can reopen, and people can form extended households with one other household.
Indoor supervised activities for children, indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults like exercise classes, and reopening community centres is also being brought forward from May 17 to May 3, which will complete Wales’ move to Alert Level 3.