Watch: First look inside the new socially distanced layout of Edinburgh Corn Exchange

A fresh beer delivery, ping pong tables and outdoor darts are all ready and waiting at this venue for customers to enjoy.

Bars, pubs and restaurants in Edinburgh took a blow this week after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced beer gardens and outdoor eating spaces were unable to reopen for at least another two weeks – despite the country entering phase two of lockdown.

But staff at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange had the popular venue all set for customers to enjoy a beer outside in a safe setting this weekend.

A fresh beer order had arrived and outdoor ping pong tables were set up and ready for eager drinkers to enjoy as the country saw more restrictions ease this week.

Owner Paul Demarco gives a peak inside the newly designed Edinburgh Corn Exchange to make sure it's safe for customers

Owner Paul Demarco published a video message on Facebook showing loyal customers what to expect at the Corn Exchange when the hospitality industry is given the green light to resume service at their venues.

“I thought I’d give people an idea of what we have been working on and for them to see what we have ready for them!

“Obviously we are absolutely gutted and disappointed.

“Honestly, I thought it was going to happen but it’s not. If it was a week away then that would be fine, but at the moment it looks like it’s going to be at least two or three weeks away at the very least right now.

“We designed a distance bar – we have a very large bar, but we had three service points ready with a two metre queuing system heading outside.”

Paul said beer was ordered and the venues toilets were set up in a certain way to enable social distancing ready for this weekend.

“We have sneeze guards for the staff, and staff would be wearing PPE at all times,” he added.

During his video message, he filmed the outdoor area which now includes three separate seating areas to encourage customers to keep at a distance.

Each outdoor seating area is going to be fitted with a television showing Sky and BT sports.

Staff at the Corn Exchange have also spent time during lockdown making outdoor ping pong tables which have been set up and are ready to use.

Swing ball has been set up outdoors along with an outside darts station for customers to enjoy when the venue can finally welcome back drinkers.

“One things we have here at the Corn Exchange is a lot of space so we are confident we can reopen in a social distanced way,” Paul added.

Ms Sturgeon assured the hospitality sector that she is hoping to make a final decision on when their outdoor setups can reopen on July 2.