Scottish restaurants set for mid-July reopening

The announcement, which comes a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead​ ​for pubs and restaurants in England to reopen on 4 July, marks the next stage in Scotland's route map out of the Coronavirus lockdown, which has been in place since March. 

According to the First Minister, outdoor hospitality areas such as beer gardens will be able to reopen on 6 July, providing the virus continues to be suppressed.

Restaurants and pubs will then be able to begin welcoming customers back for indoor trade from 15 July, providing precautionary measures are taken. 

The First Minister has advised that hospitality businesses should prepare to have to take people’s details for bookings and store them for up to four weeks as part of their reopening plans.

Advisors are currently reviewing whether the two metre social distancing rule should be eased, with the outcome expected on 2 July.

“This greater clarity is possible because of the progress we have made against the virus," said Sturgeon.

"But delivering on the milestones depends on that progress continuing.”

Safety guidance for the tourism and hospitality sectors in Scotland were published last week​​ with an indicative reopening date of 15 July.

The date was first mooted earlier this month by Scottish Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing​​, who told the country's tourist bodies at the time that they should prepare for reopening from 15 July onwards