City Council advises Hospitality Venues on Conditions of Re-Opening
On the 22 February 2021, the government set out a step-by-step plan to ease COVID-19 restrictions within England. The plan, described as a ‘roadmap,’ is a guide to what could re-open under each date. Detailed below are the conditions by which hospitality businesses are permitted to trade.
Step 2 -no earlier than 12 April 2021
Hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs, including in member’s clubs) can open their outdoor spaces if they adhere to the following conditions:
• Outdoors: Your outside space and any outside shelters used, must comply with Smoke Free Regulations. Put simply, 50% or more of the walls must be missing, e.g. the structure could have a roof and one side. Any shelter must also be unobstructed by any nearby walls or other walls, up to a distance of 1.5m.
• Table Service: Businesses that serve alcohol for consumption on the premises must ensure food or drink is ordered by, and served to, a customer who is seated on the premises. The business must also take all reasonable steps to ensure that the customer remains seated whilst consuming the food or drink on the premises.
• Shared Smoking Equipment: Venues will be prohibited from providing shared smoking equipment such as shisha pipes.
• COVID-19 Secure: The business must have policies and procedures in place ensuring it is COVID-19 secure. All rules surrounding social distancing and face coverings still apply.
You are also advised that:
• Customers: Customers can meet in a group of up to six people from different households; a maximum of two households can meet to form a group. However, all people meeting together must continue to socially distance from people not in the same household or support bubble.
• Curfew: There will be no curfew. Businesses can sell food and alcohol in line with their license and pavement license.
• Takeaway: Takeaway alcohol sales will be allowed.
• WCs: Customers will be allowed to access WCs inside the premises.
NB: this information could be subject to change in line with government guidance.
What to do next?
To help businesses be COVID secure before reopening, we are asking that you please complete the simple check list in the link attached. Working through the check list will help you identify any missing COVID safety measures in your business: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2021-03/12.4.21%20Hospitality%20Check%20List%20%28002%29.pdf
COVID Safety Visits:
COVID Information Officers (CIO) will be carrying out COVID safety spot checks across the city. The CIOs may ask to see this check list, or equivalent written documentation, as part of their visit. Please be aware that action can be taken where there are inadequate control measures in place, including providing advice, serving notices and prosecution.
For the most up to date government information on reopening businesses and venues see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reopening-businesses-and-venues-in-england/reopening-businesses-and-venues
If you have any further questions around COVID Safety, please email the COVID Information Team at: covid.information@brighton-hove.gov.uk