Police visit city pubs as groups are found drinking outside

Several pubs in Edinburgh have had visits from Police Scotland after groups of people were seen gathering in their beer gardens or outside the pub over the weekend in contravention of government lockdown restrictions.

There have also been reports of similar situations arising in East Lothian. Under the rules of phase one, food and drink outlets are allowed to open, but only for takeaway service.

Police were called to the Canny Man’s in Edinburgh’s Morningside, the Torfin Bar in Corstorphine and the Old Chain Pier in Newhaven on Saturday afternoon.

Officers were also sent to the Iona Bar on Easter Road on Sunday.

Paul Waterson, spokesperson for the Scottish Trade and Licensing Association, said:

“The guidance is quite clear. There’s absolutely no opening until the government allows it.

“The Scottish Government will make the decision on that, and no-one should be opening any beer gardens before that decision is made. There has been no confusion about that.

“We understand it’s difficult, but we would urge all license holders to go with the government advice.”

Video footage shared on social media had shown a crowd of people drinking take-away pints and sitting in groups outside the Iona Bar on Saturday afternoon.

A local resident who took the video, who wished to remain anonymous, said some of the drinkers directed verbal abuse at her while she was filming.

A passer-by said: “There were probably about 40 to 50 people gathered there when I walked past. They certainly weren’t social distancing. A lot of them were just mingling with each other and drinking as if they were at the pub.

“I saw a couple of people filming and a few men started to get quite verbally aggressive. I understand someone had reported them to the police.”

A police spokesman said: “Officers attended, dispersed the group and advice was given.”

Police had been called earlier last week to break up a group of about 40 people seen drinking and sitting together outside a Tesco store in Leith.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing up to 15 officers speaking to a group of men sitting on and standing by a wall behind the Wonder World Softplay in Duke Street.

Mass gatherings are still not permitted due to the risk of coronavirus cases rising again.