We round up some of the beer gardens and alfresco restaurants you can grab a drink in now

Julia Bryce rounds up some of the beer gardens and alfresco restaurants you can grab an alcoholic drink in now

New restrictions in place on bars, restaurants and hotels mean customers may not be able to catch up for a glass of wine or a pint indoors – the current ban has a 6pm curfew on indoor premises.

As a result, venues have had to be creative, innovative and adapt to offer up comfortable outdoor experiences which will bring in revenue and stay in touch with customers and allow them to enjoy alcohol until 10pm.

Some – outside the central belt where licensed premises have been forced to close completely apart from takeaways – have transformed their gardens and outdoor areas into covered but open spaces.

BYOB used to mean bring your own booze, but nowadays it’s more likely to mean bring your own blanket – so that you can stay warm and cosy outside.

Other venues have announced pop-up offerings, cocktail delivery services and more.

Here, we round up some of the innovative solutions on offer.

Pop-up outdoor dining and BYOB (bring your own blanket)

In Inverness, the Kingsmills Hotel has completely transformed its gardens into an impressive heated dining area which is open from noon to 10pm daily.

The pop-up bar and garden restaurant offers everything from the hotel’s a la carte menu to afternoon tea, and there’s even an outdoor wine and prosecco bar.

The area is open to residents, but as of this week is also open to non-residents who can book to drink or dine there between 12.30pm and 5pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The perfect setting for lunch, afternoon tea or a cocktail, booking is essential on 01463 237166.

Guests are also encouraged to BYOB to stay as warm as possible and, of course, as is the case with all venues, bookings must not include more than six individuals from two households.

In Aberdeen, the Chester Hotel has also launched a similar “bring your own blanket” campaign to get more people dining alfresco.

The hotel is now closed on Mondays and Tuesdays for all food and drink, however during the rest of the week, the indoor bars are open for food and non-alcoholic drinks from noon to 6pm, and the outdoor dining marquee is open from noon to 10pm.

New pop-ups

Inverness hospitality chain Cru Holdings, which has venues including Scotch & Rye, The Keg and Bar One, has already closed three sites in reaction to the rules.

Taking further steps to adapt their remaining venues, the team has reintroduced its home delivery service and has also converted the outdoor facilities at its Prime restaurant into a pub.

Dubbed “The Angel Has Fallen” in reference to their Angel’s Share whisky and gin bar that sits above the steak and seafood restaurant, bosses have purchased heaters to make it a more encouraging place to visit.

Open Wednesday to Sunday from 6-10pm and from 2pm on Saturdays, the alfresco setting will offer up the chance for customers to enjoy a range of beers, spirits, wines and cocktails, as well as snack boards.

Guests are also encouraged to BYOB to stay as warm as possible

The return of cocktail delivery

With many bars and late-night venues even outside of the central belt being forced to close due to it not being viable to open without the ability to serve alcohol, various establishments have reintroduced their “at home” cocktail services for customers.

Adrian Gomes, owner of Aberdeen speakeasy The Tippling House, took the decision to offer take-out, home delivery and gourmet snacks for customers to enjoy throughout their restricted opening times.

Usually the city’s go-to late-night bar, the team have launched these new services to continue to operate in a refreshed way.

Other Aberdeen cocktail bars including Orchid and Dusk have also relaunched their delivery services, too, and restaurants including 210 Bistro in the city centre are offering takeaway cocktails to go along with their takeaway food offering.

Meanwhile, one Aberdeen bar is to remain open over the course of the coming weeks, despite restrictions, to serve as a hub to break social isolation.

Malones Irish bar on Shiprow made the commitment to customers to ensure people are supported during the 16-day restrictions on bars and restaurants.

The pub has said tea and coffee will be offered free of charge without any other purchase being necessary. Free wifi is also being provided.

For a more extensive list of venues offering outdoor facilities across the north-east, Highlands and Islands, visit www.pressandjournal.co.uk and click on the lifestyle section.