What are the rules for pubs, restaurants, festivals and gigs?
- Published
Near-normal service is expected to resume in pubs and restaurants in England from 19 July.
Summer festivals and gigs will also be able to go ahead without Covid rules limiting audience numbers.
What is changing in England?
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants people "to make their own informed decisions about how to manage the virus".
Most Covid restrictions will be lifted from 19 July - though confirmation won't happen until 12 July, when the latest health data will be reviewed.
In pubs, cafes and restaurants:
- capacity limits lifted
- social distancing guidance removed
- no rule of six or two households at one table
- end of table service only
- face coverings no longer mandatory, but use recommended in enclosed, crowded public spaces
At music venues and events:
- no limits on numbers at concerts, theatres or sports events
- nightclubs can reopen
- communal singing allowed
Covid certificates/passports will not be legally required as a condition of entry to any venue or event, but certification using NHS app could be used.
You will still have to self-isolate if you test positive or are told to do so by NHS Test and Trace.
What are the rules until 19 July?
In pubs, cafes and restaurants:
At music venues/events:
- Indoor and outdoor events can take place, but with social distancing between groups and limited attendance
- Cap for most indoor events is 1,000 people or 50% of a venue's capacity (whichever is lower). Outdoors it is 4,000 or 50%
Some summer festivals are still planning to go ahead as planned, but others have been cancelled altogether, gone online, or been rescheduled.
Organisers of the Latitude (late July), Reading and Leeds (late August) festivals say they will "sell to capacity" and are not inclined to encourage those attending to wear masks.
What are Scotland's rules?
Hospitality restrictions vary according to local Covid-protection levels.
Under-12s don't count towards numbers (but do when counting numbers of households).
- Venues open until 22:30 indoors, two-hour pre-booked slots
- Outdoors, local licensing rules
- Six people from three households can meet indoors
- Eight people from eight separate households can meet outdoors
- Venues open until 23:00 indoors
- Outdoors, local licensing rules
- Eight people from three households can meet indoors
- Twelve people from 12 households can meet outdoors
- Normal local licensing regulations
- Ten people from three households can meet indoors
- Fifteen people from 15 households can meet outdoors
Rules for music venues/events are also dependent on local Covid rules.
Level two areas have a 100-person limit for indoor events, 250 for outdoor standing events and 500 for outdoor seated events. Numbers doubles for level one areas (200, 500 and 1,000) - and double again for level zero (400, 1,000 and 2,000).
Scotland is aiming to remove all major legal Covid restrictions by 9 August.
What about Wales?
Up to six people from different households can meet indoors at pubs, cafes and restaurants.
People who do not live together, or are not in bubbles, should remain socially distanced, 2m (6ft) apart.
Business owners are responsible for making their premises as safe as possible:
- Children under 11/working carers not counted
- Licensed premises can offer table service only, with measures to support physical distancing
- Customers encouraged to pre-book and must provide contact details
The maximum number of people allowed at outdoor "regulated gatherings" - such as festivals and concerts - is 4,000 standing and 10,000 seated. Capacity rules for indoor music and comedy venues have been relaxed a little.
Rules will be reviewed on 15 July.