Guidance to reopening businesses and venues

Guidance to reopening businesses and venues

Please note: this article was published on 31st March 2021, the information below may now be out of date. For the latest information, visit our Recovery & Support Hub here.

Some of the rules on what you can and cannot do changed on 29 March, however, many restrictions remain in place.

Full guidance on reopening business and venues in England can be found here.

You should continue to work from home if you can, minimise the number of journeys you make where possible, and follow the rules in the Coronavirus Restrictions guidance. You should refer to the closures guidance for the latest rules for closing certain businesses and venues in England.

The government has published the ‘COVID-19 Response – Spring 2021’ setting out the roadmap out of the current coronavirus restrictions. This is a step-by-step plan to ease restrictions in England cautiously.

Due to the current relatively uniform spread of the virus across the country, the four steps set out in the roadmap are designed to apply to all regions. The indicative, ‘no earlier than’ dates for Steps 2, 3 and 4 of in the roadmap are all contingent on the data and subject to change.

The remaining steps of the roadmap are as follows:

Step 2 – No earlier than 12th April

Non-essential businesses can reopen, as well as personal care such as hair dressers and nail salons. Indoor gyms may reopen, as well as holiday lets but only when used by individuals or household groups.

Reopening of pubs and restaurants outdoors, with no curfew and no requirement for alcohol to be accompanied by ‘a substantial meal’.

Step 3 – No earlier than 17th May

Outdoor restrictions will be lifted to a limit of 30 people, and the rule of six will be applied indoors, including hospitality.

Indoor businesses such as sports stadiums, cinemas, hotels, children’s play areas and theatres may reopen – depending on capacity size of the venue to ensure COVID measures can still be followed (see below chart for more information).

Weddings and other significant life events have a maximum of 30 attendees.

International travel may be permitted from this point, subject to review.

Step 4 – No earlier than 21st June

Remove all legal limits on social contact, weddings and other life events may go to full capacity again.

All remaining businesses will be reopened including nightclubs and large events such as concerts and theatre performances may go ahead. There may be a testing facility for these to reduce the risk of infection.

This is subject to the outcome of the Events Research Programme, and a review of social distancing measures.

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