Covid: Restaurants and pubs have reopened, but what are the rules?
- Published
Pubs in England can now open for customers seated outdoors - with people only allowed indoors to use the toilet.
But the prospect of an indoor pint is still a few weeks off.
What are the latest rules in pubs and restaurants in England?
Restrictions have changed since December, when pubs were last open. People don't need to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks - and there is no 22:00 curfew.
But there are still Covid measures in place at both pubs and restaurants:
When can I eat or drink inside?
In England, it is hoped the next set of restrictions can be lifted in mid-May - if coronavirus goals are being met.
- 17 May: Customers can eat and drink indoors, in groups of up to six people, or two households of any size. Groups seated outside must be smaller than 30 people
- 21 June: All restrictions could be lifted, with nightclubs allowed to reopen
How are venues keeping people safe?
To stop the spread of Covid, guidance for hospitality says pubs, cafes and restaurants should:
- Use social distancing markings
- Provide disposable sauce sachets
- Install plastic screens between tables or at tills
- Encourage contactless payments
At venues serving alcohol, payment should be taken at tables outdoors.
At those not serving alcohol, customers can order and collect food and drinks from a counter but must eat outside.
Venues can put up outdoor shelters, gazebos or marquees. These can have a roof, but need to have at least 50% of the area of their walls open.
Pubs which show sport can use screens outside for matches, as long as drinkers stay seated and volume is kept low.
Venues must not, however, provide smoking equipment such as shisha pipes.
Why can't all pubs and restaurants reopen?
Many venues just don't have enough, or any, outside space to make reopening possible.
Only 38.2% of licensed premises (41,100) have designated outdoors areas across England, Scotland and Wales, according to an industry report.
Few restaurants in England have outside space (11.9%) - while most pubs offering full-service food do (86.4%).
If there is enough space outside, cafes and restaurants can apply to local councils for temporary pavement licences - extending their outdoor seating space.
Will I need a vaccine passport to go to the pub?
There is currently no legal requirement for customers to prove their Covid status.
But, the government says it will be legal for such businesses to ask customers for proof of Covid status if they wish to - as long as they do not break equalities laws.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously suggested pub-goers could be asked to provide a vaccine certificate, after all adults have been offered a first jab by the end of July.
What about Scotland?
From 26 April, restaurants, bars and cafes are set to:
- Open outdoors until 22:00 with alcohol permitted
- Open indoors until 20:00 without alcohol
- Serve groups of up to four people from two different households
From 17 May, they should be able to:
- Stay open until 22:30 indoors with alcohol permitted - customers will be given two-hour slots
- Serve alcohol outdoors until 22:00
The Scottish Government hasn't given specific dates for easing restrictions beyond May - but the hope is that hospitality venues will be able to remain open until 23:00 by early June.
What about Wales?
Outdoor hospitality will reopen - including at cafes, pubs and restaurants - on 26 April.
Indoor service could be allowed in time for the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May - but a decision won't be taken until at least 17 May.
What about Northern Ireland?
In Northern Ireland, no dates have been set for pub and restaurant reopening.
The first can reopen under step three of its roadmap out of lockdown. Pubs would be table-service only and those that don't serve food would have to remain closed.