Hospitality venues in England to reopen from 4 July

Pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers can open from 4 July in England, when social distancing rules will be eased.

Pubs and restuarants will be allowed to open both indoors and outdoors if they put in safety guidelines including table service.  Further guidance is to follow.

The government are also planning a new law making it easier for pubs, restaurants and cafes to serve people outside.  The new legislation will be introduced in parliament later this week,

This follows the announcement that from 4 July the 2 metre social distancing rule is to be relaxed to ‘1 metre plus’ where 2m distancing is not possible.

Opening on 4 July will be:

• Hotels
• Bed and Breakfasts
• Holiday homes
• Campsites
• Caravan Parks
• Boarding houses
• Places of worship
• Libraries
• Workplace canteens
• Bars
• Pubs
• Cinemas
• Museums and galleries
• Funfairs
• Theme parks
• Amusement arcades
• Model Villages

However, there are still several sectors in England which will not be allowed to open on July 4th:

• Night clubs
• Indoor play areas eg softplay
• Tatoo parlours
• Indoor fitness and gyms
• Waterparks
• Conference centres

Businesses will be encouranged to take the names of customers so they can be told if someone nearby later tests positve for the virus.  Guidance is still to keep washing hands and staying 2 metres away from others where possible.

Further guidance from the government will follow in due course.  In the meantime, if you require any advice on how to reopen your hospitality business safely, please contact Matt Foster, Partner and Head of Licensing on 0191 281 6151 or email mfoster@mincoffs.co.uk