Hundreds enjoy first pint since lockdown
Hundreds of Perth and Kinross residents headed to pubs and restaurants across the region yesterday as beer gardens opened for the first time in over 100 days.
With planning laws being relaxed to allow publicans to take full advantage of lockdown easing, some car parks have been turned into makeshift seating areas.
The measure will act as a pilot scheme before pubs and restaurants can reopen fully from July 15.
Among those to reopen yesterday was The Twa Tams in Perth, where the time in lockdown was used to refurbish and sanitise their beer garden in preparation for the welcome return of punters.
Speaking to the PA, manager Eve Taylor said: “We have absolutely [been looking forward to returning].
“We have done a full refurbishment of the beer garden, so we have got benches in the back now and it has been painted and power washed and everything so it is looking really good at the moment.
“We are open Monday to Sunday, noon until 10pm every day while the beer garden is open.
“We are doing a booking-only system at the moment to keep it safe and keep it controlled.
“Today (Monday, July 6) at lunchtime, people are wanting to come out in the sunshine and this coming Saturday is very busy and we have a number of bookings during the week.
“We have put in place every measure you can imagine. We have got hand sanitisers, we have got customer guidelines in the menus, we have got staff guidelines we must follow. We have also got cleaning schedules, we have put in a one-in oneout system. People will have to wait to get seated so we have a little table at the front.
“We have separated all of our bookings at 15-minute intervals to allow time for the area to be cleaned and for people to be sat.
“At the weekend it will get busy but it has been good to start it on a Monday because it will get everybody used to a different way of working.”
The Red House Hotel in Coupar Angus, which has housed essential workers during lockdown, has an area of the car park turned into a makeshift beer garden.
Owner Alan Bannerman said: “I have been here 40 years at the Red House and it has been the biggest challenge ever, as it has been for everybody. I think everybody is ready to open again.
“We are just happy to see there is a line in the sand and everyone can look forward.
“We are opening from 12.30pm daily, we have got 15 tables and it is first come, first served.
“It is drinks and tea and coffee only. We are not bringing our kitchen staff back until we fully reopen on July 15.
“We will have track and trace, hand sanitiser and all the tables are socially distanced.
“And it is table service only.
“Toilets will be checked and cleaned regularly everything that is right is in place.
“There has been people saying they are looking forward to coming back via Facebook.
“So we will get a good turnout this week I think, weather permitting.”