The National Piping Centre today opens its doors once again to the public.
The reopening comes amid the Scottish Government’s easing of lockdown rules around the country.
The reopening of the NPC’s city centre headquarters is limited to its hospitality and retail business. Piping lessons remain online for the time being and practice rooms remain closed. The Museum of Piping is also open as of today. Find out more about the opening hours for The Bagpipe Shop so you can time your visit right here
The organisation’s award-winning Pipers’ Tryst bar and restaurant has introduced a new menu as well as a wider range of drinks options to include non-alcoholic beverages.
Emily Nelson, Senior Manager at the Pipers’ Tryst, said: “Today is the culmination of a lot of planning and adjustment. It’s great to see activity in the place again and we have bookings throughout today and beyond. This is a great day, for sure, not just for us but the industry as a whole. We’re passionate about what we do.”
If you would like to book at table for the restaurant, head over to the website now here.
Gary Carruthers of The Bagpipe Shop, marked the reopening by playing a couple of jigs outside the NPC’s McPhater Street building:
In Scotland, as of today, outdoor socialising of up to six people from up to three households is permitted (or four people from two households sitting indoors). Tourist accommodation providers can reopen and outdoor hospitality can open till 22:00 with alcohol permitted. Indoor hospitality is permitted without alcohol (until mid-May) with closing at 20:00. The wearing of a mask or covering when not sitting at your table is also a necessary provision.
Government ministers say the restrictions are being eased as the most vulnerable people have now been offered their first vaccine dose. Scotland has been in Level 4 lockdown since December 26, with all non-essential shops, leisure facilities, and hospitality venues closed.
Those who do not have COVID-19 symptoms are be encouraged to take regular tests and testing kits are being made available to all. These can be picked up without an appointment from walk-in or drive through test sites from 15:30 every day.
The Scottish Government plans to ease restrictions further on May 17. This should see a further expansion of hospitality, one that allows bars, pubs, restaurants and cafés able to stay open until 22:30 indoors … with alcohol permitted.
