Border hopping Scots to get a 'warm welcome' in English pubs this New Year

A Newcastle bar owner is welcoming Scottish people 'with open arms' as many are expected to travel across the border to bring in the bells.

It's as restrictions on hospitality such as seated space only, reduced capacity and table service remain in place in Scotland, whereas in England proof of vaccination and/or a negative lateral flow test result is the only restriction in place.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney earlier this week did make calls for people not make the trip, as it would be 'against the spirit' of Scottish guidance.

Oli Vaulkhard owns Vaulkhard Entertainment, who have over 20 pubs and bars in the Newcastle area, he believes people should make the journey if that's what they want.

He said: "There's a number of venues, mine included, that are running slightly limited capacity just to give people a bit more space and we are focusing on outdoor areas as much as we can where the whether permits.

"Saying that I can assure anyone that travels south of the border they will have a great night out here.

"People travelling south will be welcome with open arms.

"We have a great tradition of Scottish people coming here for nights out and equally so we go north of the border for nights out. So certainly the welcome will be warm and real.

"There'll be a lot of people coming south of the border and I think in many ways why wouldn't you? The fact that two countries that share an open border have very different approaches to the same problem can't make a lot of sense really.

"Certainly people coming south of the border will be very welcome, I expect them to come in large numbers and I expect them to have a good time."

Looking just north of the border pubs and bars in the south of Scotland are expecting a bleak night, with house parties and border hoppers expected to be the most prevalent method of celebration.

Stephen Montgomery owns the Townhead Hotel in Lockerbie, he said: "We will still have a disco, however that'll just be background music, and it will be completely table service.

"There'll be nobody able to stand at the bar, nobody will be able to stand and have a drink in their hands in fact nobody will be able to stand at all.

"You have got to be seated which means we are down to 35 - 40 per cent capacity of what we would normally be, which is a heavy blow for us.

"We are going to see, and it's pretty obvious, people will jump the train from Annan, Dumfries Lockerbie and Gretna and go across the border into Carlisle.

"They can go a few feet across the border and into one of the local hotel or bars down there.

"It's not really well thought out, people will socialise, that's the way we are.

"People that don't go out will party at home, so we'll see drink flying out of the supermarket yet again."

The Scottish Government is urging people to stay at home as much as possible, with meet-ups to be limited to a maximum of three households.

Hear the latest news on Downtown on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.