Get ready for longer opening hours in Scotland this summer

From the Edinburgh Festival to the Highland Games, the Scottish summer is world-famous for its events at the best of times. This year we’ve not only got the added excitement of the Commonwealth Games on our home turf in Glasgow, but also the FIFA World Cup kicking off in the States in June – and many Scottish councils have extended opening hours for licensed premises while it’s on.

At a time when financial pressures are rising for hospitality businesses, special events could help bring in some extra income – so if you’re choosing to take advantage of longer opening hours this summer, here’s what to watch out for. 

What are the rules in your area?

Your local licensing board calls the shots when it comes to later opening hours so you will need to check what’s allowed in your area, and apply to your board for permission to open later.

Different boards have different rules. For example, for the World Cup, Glasgow has a city-wide extension allowing pubs and other licensed venues to stay open to screen any match until half an hour after the final whistle, and participating venues need to have televised sport included in their operating plan (or apply for a licence variation). In contrast, Aberdeen is allowing all hospitality venues to trade until 3am for Scotland games only, with premises permitted to remain open until half an hour after the final whistle so people can leave safely.  

At the same time, some licensing boards allow for ‘seasonal variations’ that permit extended opening for locally or nationally significant events. For example, in Edinburgh, licensed premises can open for longer hours during the August Festival and at Christmas. That means any hospitality business with ‘seasonal variations’ within their license can open for longer automatically during these time periods without having to apply for any extra provision.

However, if you want to make the most of longer opening hours during this year’s ‘summer of sport’, it’s best to check with your local board to find out what you can and cannot do, and what you may need to apply for before June starts.

Practical preparations

For some hospitality businesses, opening for longer will be a financial balancing act. Will the extra hours and added custom bring in enough to offset the extra operational costs?

You’ll need to consider how much extra stock you need to order in, and when. Will you need extra furniture, or could you rearrange the layout of your business to take advantage of more drinkers and less diners after a certain hour? What age restrictions are in place?

The licensing board rules may also have an impact on whether you can use outside space, so it’s worth checking and applying the same process to any exterior space your premises may have. You may even have to comply with certain conditions, for example using toughened glass, all of which need to be considered and acted upon in good time.
 

Lastly, to broadcast sports, is your existing setup sufficient or is it worth upgrading? Whatever you decide, it’s worth bearing in mind higher energy costs that come with keeping the lights on for longer than normal, and working that into your operational budget.
 

Plan for your staff

Every hospitality business relies on its people to deliver good service, and while busy premises are great for the bottom line, it can be more challenging for your staff. This is especially the case when emotions are running high – for example, during a major sporting event like the World Cup. So it’s important to maximise the potential for busy periods while still looking after your staff.

Consider whether you want to change shift patterns temporarily, or even whether you should hire temporary staff. For many in hospitality, operating costs are tight right now – so what makes most financial sense for your business? If you haven’t already, chat to your team about your plans – you might have some who are keen for the extra shifts, and others who are less so. How will they get home safely late at night? For example, in Glasgow, you need to have a written policy covering the safe travel of staff after a shift to comply with the extended hours license.

In the meantime, it’s advisable to make sure all your team members are up to date with health and safety procedures, and that they know – and feel confident in – the correct process to follow should any customer prove troublesome, or have an accident.

Keep yourself covered

While hopefully meaning a bumper summer for your hospitality business, longer hours do come with more opportunity for accidents – especially when alcohol is involved. Make sure you keep you and your business protected by checking your hospitality business insurance is right for your needs.

Does your policy allow for temporary longer hours, or do you need to extend your cover? If you’re investing in higher stock levels, extra furniture or temporary staff, does your policy cover the higher amounts? Do you need to review your liability cover, for both members of the public and your employees? Your broker will be able to advise you – simply send a quick email or give them a call to give yourself the peace of mind that you’re still protected during unusual hours and special events.

At the same time, this is a good time to undertake a risk management review. Are your health and safety policies up to date, and do your staff know the right processes to follow in different scenarios? Is your premises as safe as it can be? A quick review could  can range from checking your smoke alarms to making sure potential trip hazards like steps are appropriately flagged. While these are year-round concerns, doublechecking nothing has been missed before you get really busy is a wise idea – helping reduce the risk of accidents so you can make the most of an expected boost in takings. 
 

Play by the rules and have fun

With a range of sporting events up ahead, let alone annual events such as the Edinburgh Festival and the Cowal Gathering, hospitality businesses could get a much-needed boost this summer – despite the headwinds that have been impacting the industry. That’s why it’s important to make sure you understand, and are fully compliant with, all conditions set out by your local licensing board.

As well as any extra conditions set out by your local licensing board, the usual five key licensing objectives still apply – preventing crime and disorder, securing public safety, preventing public nuisance, protecting and improving public health, and protecting children and young persons from harm. The same goes for off-sales rules which – all off-sales must still stop by 10pm, regardless of your opening hours.

In the meantime, the summer is gearing up to be exciting opportunity for Scottish hospitality at a time when it needs support more than ever. Here’s to a successful season. 

Your business is built on great service. Ours is too.

With rising costs squeezing the hospitality sector more than ever, peak summer season is a crucial time for hotels and restaurants. And while Scottish businesses have a unique opportunity to maximise bookings and footfall throughout a busy event-driven summer, at Howden, we understand the challenges you face throughout the year.

Whether you run a restaurant, hotel, or bar, we provide handcrafted hospitality insurance designed to protect what matters most: your people, your income, and your reputation.

Talk to us today to see how we can serve your hospitality business, from an insurance review to business resilience planning.