The following changes will come into effect at 5pm on Friday 10 September 2021.

Domestic indoor settings

The maximum number of people who may meet indoors in a domestic setting will  increase to 15 from up to 4 households.

Hospitality settings

The requirement for table service will be eased, both indoors and outdoors, to enable customers to go to the bar to place orders or pay. However, in indoor settings, customers will still be required to return to their table in order to consume their food or drink. Because there is less risk in outdoor settings, the prohibition on standing to consume food and drink outdoors will be removed.

In addition,  the prohibition on movement and standing will be removed to allow customers to play darts, pool, gaming machines etc.

The Executive says the hospitality sector will also need to consider how best to manage the movement and queueing of customers to mitigate risk. In addition, the requirement to wear face coverings while not seated indoors will continue.

Music and dancing

In relation to indoor, live performance events (concerts and gigs) the requirements for tickets to be purchased in advance and allocated seating will be removed. However customers must still be seated and the requirement to record contact details for all attendees continues.

The current restriction on music to background or ambient levels where that restriction currently applies will be removed.

In addition, the current restriction on dancing in indoor settings will be removed for post wedding and civil partnership celebrations.

Working from home

The message to work from home where possible and appropriate remains, but the Executive would encourage employers to plan for a return to the workplace with consideration of mitigations to control the spread of the virus and engagement with employees and their representatives on the beneficial use of flexible working where appropriate.