A REFRESHING pint in the sun at a pub beer garden was enjoyed in East Lothian for the first time in months this week.

Several pubs in the county opened up their beer gardens and outside areas on Monday as the coronavirus lockdown was eased.

All pubs in the county had been shut, both inside and outside, since lockdown was introduced in March.

Last Thursday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that pubs would be allowed to open their beer gardens again on Monday.

Two-metre social distancing still has to be followed, while pubs are also following additional safety measures.

Pubs are not allowed to open their indoor areas until Wednesday.

Ahead of lockdown being eased on Monday, East Lothian Council had confirmed premises which already had beer gardens or licensed outdoor areas prior to lockdown could reopen without any need to reapply for a drinks licence. Those which had not previously had outdoor drinking areas, or which planned to use an area close to their venue which was separate from it, could apply for an occasional licence.

More than a dozen pubs in East Lothian have now opened their beer gardens – and are already proving popular with residents.

Jack Findlay only took the helm at The Castle Inn in Dirleton at the beginning of February.

The business reopened its outdoor area on Monday and Mr Findlay was pleased everything had gone well.

He said: “I think we all really enjoyed it.

“All the staff really enjoyed it and what made it a lot easier was the local people were embracing the rules. That made it a lot easier for all of us.

“We have 80 covers usually but we are maybe only using 70 per cent of that. It is all safe and we are looking forward to opening inside next Wednesday.”

Mr Findlay said that a number of steps had been taken to ensure the safety of people visiting the business, as well as staff.

He said staff were wearing masks, while hand sanitiser was also available throughout the business.

A ‘one in, one out’ policy is in operation in the toilets, while everyone is also observing the two-metre distancing rule.

Similar steps are being taken at The Volunteer Arms in Dunbar.

A member of staff at the pub, on the town’s Victoria Street, said customers had been “very compliant and very accommodating”.

She said: “We have social distancing in place and we have got sanitising stations as soon as you arrive.

“You have to ask for a key to the toilets as well.”

Staff are also wearing face masks at the pub.

Meanwhile, James Findlay, at The Waterside Bistro in Haddington, said people were “appreciative” that it was a slightly unusual situation.

He said: “Monday went really well.

“Ninety five per cent of people are sticking to the rules and we have got a one in, one out system with the toilets.”

Tables outside the eatery are socially distanced, with disposable menus and cutlery also being used.

The Nether Abbey Hotel in North Berwick was another venue to open its beer garden on Monday.

The first day went off without a hitch and staff were said to be happy to get back to work.

People were even queuing up on Tuesday afternoon, waiting for the doors to open.

Christie Chisholm, a manager at the Nether Abbey, told the Courier on Tuesday: “Yesterday was absolutely buzzing. People had such a great time and were dancing out on the patio.

“We also introduced the Nether Bomb [which has the same contents as a Jägerbomb] and a lot of young people were enjoying that.

“We had some of our regulars who have been coming in for 30 years and some young people, one of them was celebrating a birthday so they were all having a party.”

She added: “People were nervous [ahead of the reopening day] and thinking of the what ifs because it is all weather-dependent.

“It was like opening up a brand new business all over again. There has been a lot of blood, sweat and tears gone into reopening and for it to go off so well, everyone is happy and thankful to be back to work.”

Danny Moffat, from the Winton Arms in Pencaitland, was pleased with Monday’s reopening.

He said: “It was a really good day. Everyone behaved themselves and stuck to the rules. It was really good to get back to work.”

He said that Tuesday, however, was a little bit quieter but started to pick up in the evening once people had finished work.

Danny added: “[Monday], with it being the first day, I thought and expected it to be a wee bit busy but Tuesday was a bit quieter but things picked up again later on.”

He later took to social media to thank everyone who came down to the opening day.

The Tweeddale Arms in Gifford also enjoyed a good first day back on Monday. Staff member Isobel Haggarty said: “It was quite busy on Monday, Tuesday was really quiet but it started to pick up and we got a few customers later on. Everyone was filing in and listening to the rules and washing their hands.”

Other pubs which have opened their beer gardens/outdoor areas this week include: The Brig & Barrel, Dunbar; Ducks Inn, Aberlady; Linton Hotel, East Linton; No. 12 Hotel & Bistro, North Berwick; The Old Clubhouse, Gullane; The Plough Tavern, Haddington; Station Yard Micropub, Dunbar; and Tyneside Tavern, Haddington. The Green in Haddington, Mercat Grill in Whitecraig and Staggs in Musselburgh intend to open their beer gardens today (Friday).

Meanwhile, a number of county pubs have already confirmed they intend to reopen their indoor areas on Wednesday.