The Government has confirmed that many more businesses can reopen on 4 July provided that can comply with Covid secure guidelines.   Premises set to re-open include pubs, restaurants, hotels, cinemas, theatres and music halls and hairdressers.  Nightclubs, indoor gyms, swimming pools and other premises where close contact is necessary will remain closed for the time being.

The announcement was made by the Prime Minister today (23 June) confirming the above.  The announcement also confirmed that that the social distancing rules be relaxed to 1m from 4 July 2020.

The relaxation of lockdown measures is conditional on the requirement to be Covid secure and Downing Street warned that “the moves would be reversed if they led to a virus surge.”

As with general retail, going to a pub and restaurant will be very different.  Covid secure guidelines means that licensed venues will need to implement measures such as:

1. Services will be limited to table service including in pubs
2. Requirement to limit staff and customers on site
3. Requirements to collect contact details for all customers to assist with track and trace

Guidance

The official Government guidance is yet to be published.  The measures referred to above were mentioned by the PM today but more specific measures will be laid out in the Government guidance for licensed venues due to be “published shortly.”

Read the PM's statement to the House of Commons