Pints ready to pour as Scottish £200m lockdown bounceback

seating plans and improved ventilation systems. Advice on physical distancing will have to be adhered to at all times, and customers will have to provide their contact details. All holiday accommodation can also open again, along with cinemas, museums and art galleries. The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) estimated that 6.8 million pints were poured down the drain because of the lockdown and, it fears, up to 460 pubs that closed at the start of the lockdown are likely to remain shut permanently.

Around 17 million pints – worth £68m – have been brewed to restock pubs, which will last until the end of the month.

SBPA chief executive Emma Mcclarkin said: “Wednesday is without a doubt an exciting time for pubs and bars across Scotland. After almost four months of forced closure, and almost seven million pints needing to be destroyed, operators are desperate to welcome customers through their doors.”

She added: “The pandemic was obviously catastrophic for the hospitality industry, with an estimated £670m lost in revenue for Scotland’s pubs and bars since March.

“Support from both Scottish and UK Governments has been instrumental in keeping businesses afloat until now, but we estimate that up to 460 pubs could have been lost during this time and will not be reopening their doors on Wednesday.

“For those which have survived, further additional support will be needed through the long recovery period ahead.”

UK Hospitality said Scottish businesses in the sector have lost between £750m and £1 billion during the lockdown. Executive director for Scotland Willie Macleod said: “This is an unprecedented crisis, so we very much expect revenue to be down. Many businesses have had three whole months of closure with no revenue at all.”

STORES HIT OUT AT SUNDAY PARKING FEES