Beer gardens. Drinks terraces. Pavement pints. The return of local hospitality will be a slow, gradual affair, but the first strides forward were made today as bars, restaurants and cafes started populating our urban realm with picnic tables, fold out chairs and other carefully positioned ways for people to sit down and order a drink or some food.
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The roadside economy is now open, so venues have adapted where possible to accomodate customers. Others will sit this stage out, waiting to open at some point after 15th July when indoor hospitality will be possible.
The Cranside Kitchen is a notable innovation with five local restaurants – Rioja, Halloumi, La Rotunda, Pickled Ginger and Kilmurry & Co – offering a menu in a new area built on the car park beside the Finnieston Cran. A fitting example of Glasgow determination to adapt to the new rules.
SWG3 are also opening a Clydeside outdoor area with their own app and ordering system for dishes from the likes of Julie’s Kopitiam and Shawarmarama .
The Locale and Chinaski’s both have their beer gardens open. Outside areas at the Bier Halle on Gordon Street and The Citizen on St Vincent’s Place are back. You can add Bavaria Brauhaus and a new beer garden from Glasgow Beer Works to the list.
West Brewery, Church on the Hill, The Record Factory, The Amsterdam, The Palais and Saint Luke’s are now also among the places you can get together while adhering to social distancing measures as we begin to enjoy city life again. Drygate will join them on 8th July and bookings are now open.