Scotland eases out of lockdown

Many restaurant businesses in Scotland's central belt will remain under Level 2 restrictions as the country eases its way out of lockdown on Saturday 5 June.

Hospitality businesses in Level 2 areas can serve alcohol and stay open until 10.30pm (with two-hour booking slots). Bookings are limited to six adults, who can come from three different households.

Areas in Level 2 include Glasgow (pictured); East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire; East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, and South Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire; Edinburgh and Midlothian; Stirling and Clackmannanshire; and Dundee.

Meanwhile, 15 mainland authorities will move to Level 1 at midnight, 5 June, including; Highland and Argyll & Bute; Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray; Angus and Perth & Kinross; Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire; Falkirk; Fife; West Lothian and East Lothian; The Scottish Borders; and Dumfries & Galloway

Under Level 1 restrictions, restaurants can serve eight adults from three households, and premises can stay open until 11pm serving food and alcohol.

All islands currently in Level 1 will move to Level 0 at the same time due to sustained low numbers of Covid-19 cases. 

“I appreciate that [these] decisions will feel like a mixed bag," says Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon. "That reflects the fact that we are in a transition phase.

"No part of the country is going backwards. Before the vaccines, that would have been impossible on case numbers like this. But the vaccines are changing the game. And that means we can still be optimistic about our chances of much more normality over the summer and beyond.

“As always, all of us have a part to play in beating this virus back. So please, stick with it, and each other.”

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