The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
It’ s cool as crowds pour back to city
Waterproof coats, jumpers, blankets and umbrellas were all must-haves as Aberdeen’s bars and restaurants opened up for the Bank Holiday weekend.
And while everyone had hoped for dry weather, a little rain wasn’t enough to put people off visiting their favourite spots across the city.
Thousands made the trip into the city centre as the May holiday coincided with the first weekend of lockdown restrictions being eased.
Staff at hospitality venues across the city had been working hard to make sure both customers and the establishments themselves stick to the strict Covid rules that remain in place.
This weekend also marked the launch of the Backyard Beach Collective.
Created by the team behind the Staxx project, half a dozen food retailers have set up shop in huts near Codona’s.
More than 1,300 customers had pre-booked for the weekend, with almost 3,500 reservations made for May.
So what are the rules for bars and restaurants as things relax?
In Level 3 the “rule of six” applies to venues operating outdoors with up to six people from six households allowed to frequent businesses under one booking.
However, one-metre social distancing must still take place, which has forced many owners to only allow four people from different households so they can socially distance at their tables.
Indoors, hospitality will welcome up to six individuals from two households.
Meanwhile, queues of vehicles trying to get into Union Square car park were spotted on Market Street, with shoppers also seen queuing at the main entrance to the mall.
Bosses at the centre also released a video showing the additional measures in place across the site.
Shoppers were asked to “ditch the mid-afternoon trip” and visit when they expected the area to be quieter.
As well as shopping centres, queues were also spotted at stores including Schuh and Primark with one customer describing stores as “busy”, adding “most shoppers are being sensible and socially distanced”.