Sadly we have to cancel BearScotFest this year. 

There is unlikely to be any formal announcement from the Scottish Government permitting large indoor gatherings until well into autumn, and there is still no planned date for nightclubs to reopen. 

We have been working closely with our venues, and as the rules currently stand any event would have to be fully seated with table service. Each table can be made up of no more than 3 households and table-hopping would have to be rigidly forbidden. This would require the event both to run on significantly reduced numbers, and wouldn’t create the sort of event we want to invite you to.

Logistics aside, hosting an event of this size is also morally against the ethos of the lockdown rules. We care about you and the safety of our community, and with many bears being at a higher risk from COVID, we have taken the sad decision to not proceed with the event. 

We look forward to welcoming you all back to celebrate Bearscot’s 21st birthday next year.

See you all soon,

Murray 
Bearscots President 

The dates for BearScotFest 2021 are...
Thursday 30 Sep - Sun 3 Oct

We are all excited that The Regent is opening back up again from the 3rd Aug. Alan and the team are working hard to ensure all the final safety measures are in place to keep both staff and customers safe. 

The Regent are following a clear policy on group size to comply with COVID19 regulations, and they will not be taking bookings or allocating tables of more than 8 people. Add to this the limit of 3 households per table and that once seated, mingling or table hopping is prohibited. 

🔹 THIS MEANS WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE BEAR SOCIALS UNTIL SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED 🔹

We wish Alan and the team all the best with the re-opening, and we are looking forward to getting together again really soon. 

Murray & the Bearscots Boys

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If you do decide to drop in to The Regent after they open on the 4th August, here is a brief description of what to expect...

🔹There will be someone on the door, who will allocate you table

🔹It will full be table service and everyone must be seated

🔹A one way systems is in place, and only one person at a time can be in the toilet

🔹Several tables & chairs have been removed so they can enforce social distancing. 

🔹Max 3 different households per table 

🔹Max table size 8 people 

🔹People sitting together must confirm to the pub that they are from the same household, otherwise they must be at least 1 metre apart. Tables have been set up to allow this extra space safely. 

🔹Contact details of customers must be recorded for "test & trace" 

🔹Once allocated a seat, you must then remain there - people are not allowed to table-hop or "mingle"

These rules are for your safety as a customers and of the staff who are serving you...  
I am sure the bears who visit The Regent will do what they can to make the re-opening as easy as possible.

 We wanted to keep everyone updated on The status of BearScotFest this year. 

You will be aware that all large public events planned for the Summer have already been cancelled, and as of yet we have received no guidance from the Scottish government or our venues as to whether events in the autumn or later will be able to go ahead. 

While all arrangements are already in place, we will not commence ticket sales until we get confirmation that large events like this can actually happen, and we take into consideration the impact of social distancing will have on both numbers and your experience of the event.  

Please keep watching our page for more information, and we will let you know as soon as we do! 

Murray 
Bearscots President
 
Gary 
BearScotFest Event Manager

BearScotFest 2020 will happen on the 1st - 4th October.

Tickets will go on sale in early summer, so sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook to get the latest information.

Wishing everyone a really lovely Christmas, if you are spending it with your bio family, your gay family or happily on your own!

Here in the Bearscots office we are now about 87% Quality Street and have Mariah on a loop... but it’s almost time to stop manning the phones and take a well earned 2 day break! Everyone back in 8am on the 27th, or there will be trouble!

Everyone have a ball...

Click here to see the full gallery, or here to download the images from Dropbox.

Thank you to our sexy photographer, Aris!