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Coronavirus: How are pubs keeping customers safe? Coronavirus: When and how are pubs allowed to open?
(8 days later)
Pubs and restaurants in England, Scotland and Wales will be given a curfew as part of measures to try to halt the spread of Covid-19. Pubs in Scotland will be severely restricted under new measures announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to try to halt the spread of Covid-19.
What are the new rules in England? What are the new rules in Scotland?
Bars and restaurants in Scotland currently have to close at 22:00 BST.
Under the new rules, from 18:00 BST on Friday 9 October, all licensed premises in the Central Belt must close completely until Sunday 25 October.
That means the area covered by the health boards for Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire, Lothian, Forth Valley and Ayrshire and Arran - where cases of the virus have been rising sharply. It includes Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Outside the Central Belt, pubs, cafes and restaurants will only be able to open indoors between 06:00 and 18:00 BST, and will not be allowed to sell alcohol during those hours.
However, they will be able to serve alcohol outdoors between 1800 and 2200 BST.
Hotel restaurants across the country will also be able to serve meals to residents in the evening, but will not be allowed to sell alcohol.
Across Scotland, a maximum of six people from up to two households will still be able to meet up in hospitality venues, subject to the revised opening hours.
There will be exceptions for "significant life events" such as wedding receptions and funeral wakes, which will be able to continue in line with current rules across the whole of the country.
What are the rules in England?
Currently, all pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues in England must close by 22:00 BST.Currently, all pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues in England must close by 22:00 BST.
Venues that are licensed to serve alcohol will be restricted by law to table service only, except for takeaways. Venues that are licensed to serve alcohol are restricted by law to table service only, except for takeaways.
In all cases, table bookings of more than six are not allowed and groups can't mingle.In all cases, table bookings of more than six are not allowed and groups can't mingle.
Businesses are legally required to take customers' contact details, so they can be traced if there is an outbreak. They can be fined up to £10,000 if they do not do this or if they take reservations of more than six, or do not enforce social distancing.Businesses are legally required to take customers' contact details, so they can be traced if there is an outbreak. They can be fined up to £10,000 if they do not do this or if they take reservations of more than six, or do not enforce social distancing.
Staff in hospitality venues must now wear masks, as must customers when not seated at their table to eat or drink. The penalty for not wearing one, or breaking the ''rule of six'' has doubled to £200 for a first offence.Staff in hospitality venues must now wear masks, as must customers when not seated at their table to eat or drink. The penalty for not wearing one, or breaking the ''rule of six'' has doubled to £200 for a first offence.
Further restrictions are coming into force from 30 September in place in parts of north-east England. Further restrictions are also in place in parts of north-east England.
People in Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland, are banned from mixing in pubs or restaurants with anyone from outside their own household. People in Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland, are banned from mixing in pubs or restaurants with anyone from outside their own household.
What are the pub rules around the UK? What are the pub rules around the rest of the UK?
In Wales, pubs, bars and restaurants stop serving at 22:00, and customers will have to be off the premises by 22:20. Supermarkets and off-licences are not allowed to sell alcohol after that time.In Wales, pubs, bars and restaurants stop serving at 22:00, and customers will have to be off the premises by 22:20. Supermarkets and off-licences are not allowed to sell alcohol after that time.
In Scotland, pubs must also close at 22:00. In Northern Ireland, pubs have to stop serving at 22:30 and must shut their doors by 23:00.
In Northern Ireland, pubs stop serving at 22:30 and must shut their doors by 23:00. But pubs that only serve drinks can now reopen, joining pubs that also serve food.
In Northern Ireland, pubs that only serve drinks can now reopen, joining pubs that also serve food.
How do social distancing rules affect pubs?How do social distancing rules affect pubs?
Social distancing across the UK is officially 2m - but in England people can be "1m plus" if they, for instance, wear a face covering or don't sit face-to-face.Social distancing across the UK is officially 2m - but in England people can be "1m plus" if they, for instance, wear a face covering or don't sit face-to-face.
Pubs, restaurants and cafes can keep individual groups closer than 2m if they take certain steps to keep customers safe.Pubs, restaurants and cafes can keep individual groups closer than 2m if they take certain steps to keep customers safe.
Areas under local restrictions because of high coronavirus rates have different rules.Areas under local restrictions because of high coronavirus rates have different rules.
What contact details do I have to provide?What contact details do I have to provide?
UK pub and hospitality bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing.UK pub and hospitality bodies have published guidance for bars and restaurants on how to operate contact tracing.
If a customer tests positive, will the pub or restaurant have to close?If a customer tests positive, will the pub or restaurant have to close?
Possibly, but not necessarily.Possibly, but not necessarily.
Official government advice says an NHS Test and Trace call does not always mean a pub or restaurant must close.Official government advice says an NHS Test and Trace call does not always mean a pub or restaurant must close.
It depends on the circumstances and when the infected person visited.It depends on the circumstances and when the infected person visited.
NHS Test and Trace could ask staff to:NHS Test and Trace could ask staff to:
Local health protection officials have the power to close establishments.Local health protection officials have the power to close establishments.
Several pubs have temporarily closed after customers or staff tested positive for coronavirus.Several pubs have temporarily closed after customers or staff tested positive for coronavirus.
If you are contacted personally by NHS Test and Trace, you should follow the advice and be prepared to self-isolate for a fortnight.If you are contacted personally by NHS Test and Trace, you should follow the advice and be prepared to self-isolate for a fortnight.
Is it safe to go to the pub?Is it safe to go to the pub?
Guidance has been issued in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures that pubs and restaurants must take to keep customers and staff safe.Guidance has been issued in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on measures that pubs and restaurants must take to keep customers and staff safe.
They include:They include:
How did the hospitality sector cope during lockdown?
The hospitality sector was the third-largest employer in the country in 2018, according to UK Hospitality.
But many restaurants and cafes were already struggling even before the Covid-19 outbreak, in the face of rising rents and falling consumer spending.
Adnams brewery chief executive Andy Wood told the Today programme that the pub industry had taken health messages seriously and it seemed "incongruous" to be singled out.
He said the industry was still "on life support" with about 900,000 jobs at risk.
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has written to 1,000 people employed at six airports to say up to 450 jobs are at risk of redundancy.
Staff at Birmingham, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Heathrow, and Stansted have been told the decision is "mainly a result of a downturn in trade in these pubs, linked with the large reduction in passenger numbers using the airports".
Since the pandemic hit, job cuts and closures have also been announced by several chains such as Byron Burger and Pizza Express.
Thousands of workers in the industry have been furloughed under the government's job retention scheme, which allows them to receive 80% of their monthly salary up to £2,500.
That scheme is now winding down, and is due to end on 31 October.