This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52977388
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 17 | Version 18 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: When and how are pubs allowed to open? | Coronavirus: When and how are pubs allowed to open? |
| (5 days later) | |
| Pubs in parts of England placed under ''very high'' alert for coronavirus transmission must close, unless they operate as a restaurant. | |
| All pubs and restaurants in central Scotland have also had to temporarily shut their doors to try to stop the spread of the virus. | |
| What are the rules for pubs in England? | |
| All pubs, bars, restaurants, cafes and other hospitality venues in England permitted to operate must close by 22:00 BST. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| What about ''high'' and ''very high'' risk areas? | |
| The Liverpool City Region will be placed under ''very high'' coronavirus alert from Wednesday 14 October. | |
| This means pubs and bars there cannot open unless they ''operate as if they were a restaurant'' and serve ''substantial'' meals. Alcohol can only be served as part of those meals. | |
| Further restrictions are also in place in areas where coronavirus transmission is high. | |
| 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. | |
| From Wednesday, this ban on mixing will be extended to all ''high risk'' areas of England. | |
| What are the new rules in Scotland? | What are the new rules in Scotland? |
| Bars and restaurants in Scotland currently have to close at 22:00 BST. | Bars and restaurants in Scotland currently have to close at 22:00 BST. |
| Under the new rules, all licensed premises in the Central Belt must close completely until Sunday 25 October at the earliest. | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 pub rules around the rest of 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 Northern Ireland, pubs have to stop serving at 22:30 and must shut their doors by 23:00. | In Northern Ireland, pubs have to 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. | But 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: |