Garden centres in Scotland to reopen on 5^th April

Scotland’s timetable for easing lockdown will permit garden centres to re-open on Monday 5^th April, with cafes, pubs and restaurants following on 26^th April.  English restaurants must wait till 17^th May.

Garden centres in Scotland reopen on 1^st Monday in April

The Scottish first minister has published her timetable for further lockdown easing.  ‘Stay at Home’ regulations will be lifted on 2^nd April and replaced with guidance to ‘Stay Local’, with hairdressers, garden centres and non-essential click and collect services able to open from 5^th April.

26^th April

Other retail outlets will have to wait another three weeks until 26^th April before reopening in Scotland.  This is also when cafes, pubs and restaurants can open until 8pm indoors, but not serve alcohol.  On the same date the Scottish Government hopes to lift all restrictions on journeys in mainland Scotland.

Wales and England

Last week it was announced that garden centres in Wales can reopen from 22^nd March. 

Garden centres in England have not closed since the first lockdown but have been prevented from opening their restaurants and cafes. 

It will be no earlier than 12^th April that all other shops in England are allowed to open with restaurants and pubs allowed to serve food and alcohol to customers sitting outdoors.  However it will be 17^th May at the earliest that pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues can seat customers indoors.

Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Executive has decided to allow garden centres to operate click and collect from 1 April.

James Barnes, Chairman of the Horticultural Trades Association said, “This offers some relief for Northern Ireland garden centres, allowing them some ability to trade in time for Easter, but is too little, too late. It doesn’t go far enough for many horticultural businesses who still have no clear idea have as to how much more of this key trading season will be curtailed by such severe restrictions."