Scotland reopens: The restrictions easing today which are worth getting excited about

Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland on Monday as lockdown easing continues. [View email online]( [Subscribe]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [The Scotsman] Apr 26, 2021 [Sam Shedden] Sam Shedden Engagement Editor Good morning, It's time for us all to rediscover Scotland. Today marks a significant milestone on the long road to recovery from the [coronavirus pandemic](. At last, [non-essential shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, galleries, museums and gyms can reopen, albeit with limitations](. As the days lengthen, hopes grow that this summer life will be as close to normal as it has been since lockdown began in March last year. Today is the most drastic easing of pandemic restrictions Scotland has seen, but in part at least, we've been here before. Rules have relaxed, only to be tightened again. This time feels different. Maybe it's the fact that after 13 months we're so far at the end of our collective tether that no-one can take any more bad news, but there really does seem to be more of[a sense of optimism among public health officials and experts than there has ever been before.]( We'll be covering it all today. The family reunions, the smiling business owners, the queues along high streets and the thirsty drinkers toasting this day in beer gardens. [You can get a sense of the atmosphere across the nation from our roving reporters featured in our live blog.]( "By supporting local businesses you are helping protect the jobs of those who live around you." Retail and tourism chiefs have issued [a rallying call to support businesses battling for survival as Scotland.]( We must all play our part to ensure the local shops we love do not disappear. If you can afford to, spend your spare cash at independent Scottish shops this summer. If you need [a refresher of all the significant rule changes today we detail them in full here.]( We've also heard from the Scottish music industry. [Brian Ferguson reports an industry campaign backed by Biffy Clyro, Mogwai, Primal Scream, Deacon Blue, KT Tunstall and The Proclaimers has warned that the sector has been left on the “brink of collapse.”]( Outside the cities, fines have been dished out as Scots swamp the nation's beauty spots. [Car parks near many of Scotland’s most popular beaches, lochs and hills were at capacity early on Saturday and Sunday as the thousands poured out of urban areas.]( Meanwhile, in business,[Standard Life Aberdeen has ditched its name for 'agile, digitally-enabled' Abrdn brand](. What do you think of the new name? Have your say in the comments below the article. Finally, did you catch the latest episode of Line of Duty last night? [It was another hair-raising night which left reviewer Aidan Smith pondering the mean of life](. Be warned: the review is full of spoilers! You can get unlimited access to thousands of quality Scottish stories a month with[a digital subscription to The Scotsman.]( Exclusives, expert analysis, thought-provoking politics coverage, agenda-setting opinion, fascinating features and much more. [Subscribe today from just £3 a month.]( There are no obligations once you join. Thanks for reading, more headlines below. [Sam Shedden]( [Scotland Reopening LIVE: Covid lockdown eases, pubs, shops and gyms reopen, and loved ones are reunited]( Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland on Monday as lockdown easing continues. [{$escapedtitle}]( [Article Image]( [Standard Life Aberdeen ditches name for 'agile, digitally-enabled' Abrdn brand]( Investment giant Standard Life Aberdeen is to change its name to Abrdn, creating a “modern, agile, digitally-enabled brand”. [Article Image]( [Sustainability mindset key to long-term commercial success, say Cambridge experts]( Why organisations will need more than gestures to deal with urgent global issues like climate change. Promoted by GetSmarter [Article Image]( [Nicola Sturgeon has taken to social media to wish businesses well as Scotland’s coronavirus restrictions ease on Monday]( Nicola Sturgeon has taken to social media to wish businesses well as Scotland’s coronavirus restrictions ease on Monday. [Article Image]( [Watch dozens of shoppers queue along Princes Street as Primark reopens its doors]( Dozens of shoppers queue outside of Primark as shops in Edinburgh open up for the first time in months. [Article Image]( [These are all of the lockdown restrictions changing in Scotland from today]( People across Scotland can look forward to enjoying more freedom from today as further lockdown restrictions are eased. [Article Image]( [Brian Monteith: Nicola Sturgeon’s poor form shows a lack of preparation and match fitness]( There are only ten more sleeps before the Holyrood election and it is still Nicola Sturgeon’s election to lose. [Article Image]( [Nicola Sturgeon will be beholden to ‘back-seat drivers’ if SNP wins majority, says Willie Rennie]( Nicola Sturgeon will have a “whole host of back-seat drivers” giving her different instructions about how to achieve Scottish independence if the SNP wins a majority, Willie Rennie has said. [Article Image]( [Scotland's Fintech Future: Fintech sector needs to extend global reach]( The Scotsman’s webinar Scotland’s Fintech Future, hosted by David Lee, heard that with 27,000 banks and 350 million businesses worldwide geography should be no barrier to success in the digital sphere [Dave Lewis]( [Britain enjoyed a solid night at the 2021 Oscars, while Nomadland won the top prize]( Sir Anthony Hopkins and Daniel Kaluuya scooped top prizes as Britain enjoyed an award-laden night at the 2021 Oscars, with a total of six wins. [Dave Lewis]( [Edinburgh former lecturer takes a stab at winning coveted Crime Writers Association Daggers Award]( Author Simpson Grears' new book, The Foot of the Walk Murders, is in the running for a Dagger, one of the most prestigious awards in the world of crime writing. For his first attempt at writing thrillers, Grears admits making the long-list for the coveted accolade has taken him completely by surprise. [Dave Lewis]( [Ex-Celtic star compares Steven Gerrard's Rangers record to Ronny Deila]( Kris Commons believes Rangers have still underachieved under Steven Gerrard despite winning their first title in ten years this season. [Dave Lewis]( [Fraser Brown labels Glasgow Warriors ‘lazy, embarrassing and lamentable’ after defeat by Benetton in Rainbow Cup]( Saturday’s 46-19 defeat by Benetton was far from the first time this season that Glasgow have under-performed, but Fraser Brown, for one, believed there was something uniquely dismal about his team’s display. [Dave Lewis]( [St Johnstone upset over Rangers means new first for Scottish football]( St Johnstone’s upset over Rangers at Ibrox means there will be no Old Firm participation in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. [View more news]( You have received this email as you are opted in to newsletters from The Scotsman, published by JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. 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