Covid-19 rules

The Covid-19 rules in England have changed. Government have now introduced a three-tier restriction systems which will standardise rules across the whole of England. 

On this page we’ve outlined the inclusions of each tier which affecting hospitality and retail.

* There are additional non-mandatory actions outlined in guidance documents which you should consider taking on top of these rules
* Locsl authorities can add additional measures to the nationwide list below
* The information on this page does not constitute legal advice

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Medium alert level (1).

Opening hours
  • Hospitality must be closed between 10pm and 5am.
    (including cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants), social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades (and other indoor leisure centres or facilities), funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls,
  • Deliveries and drive-thrus are allowed during this time but not takeaways.
  • Nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques, sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars must remain closed.
Group numbers/mixing
  • A maximum group size of six is allowed. All age ranges are included in the headcount.
  • Each group can be made up of multiple households
  • You must ensure people are not meeting in groups of more than 6 people on your premises
  • You must ensure that seperate groups of six do not ‘mingle’

Exceptions –

  • Single group made up of a single household or support bubble.
  • Groups meeting for work, and voluntary, charitable services, education, training, or registered childcare
  • Exercise classes and sports
  • Youth groups
  • Funerals, weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and receptions or other religious life-cycle ceremonies can meet in groups of up to 15 (28th Sep limit is being lowered from 30).
Physical distancing

2m distance should be the norm. ‘1m plus’ is acceptable if 2m in unachievable. This means 1m distance between customers, plus an additional control measure such as a face covering or a barrier.

Face coverings
  • Face coverings must be worn by retail and hospitality staff in public facing roles.
  • Retail customers must wear face coverings at all times.
  • Hospitality customers must wear face coverings except when seated at a table to eat or drink.
  • Your business must remind customers to wear face coverings.

Exceptions – People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.

Service
  • Food and drink must be ordered from, served to and consumed at a table.
  • Music played on the premises must not exceed 85db(A) unless it’s a live performance.
Customer/staff details
  • You must have a system in place to ensure that you can collect information from your customers and visitors.
  • Regardless of what system you choose to run yourself, you must also display an official NHS QR code poster which allows customers and visitors to ‘check-in’ These can be can be generated online. 
  • You must also have a system for collecting information from customers who do not have a smartphone.
  • You must ask at least one member of every party of customers or visitors (up to 6 people) to provide the following:
    • the name of the individual
    • a telephone number on which the individual may be contacted;
    • an e-mail address if the individual is unable to provide a telephone number;
    • a postal address if the individual is unable to provide an email address;
    • the date and time that the individual entered the relevant premises;
    • where the individual is a member of a group seeking permission to enter premises together, the number of people in that group (including any member of the group that has scanned a QR Code when seeking to enter the premises).If a customer uses the NHS QR Code and app, this discharges the obligation for the venue to collect their details.
  • Your must refuse entry to a customer who has not provided details, or you have reason to believe that the details provided are inaccurate.
  • You must keep a record of all staff working on your premises including shift times and contact details.
  • Keep these records of customers, visitors and staff for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested.

High alert level (2).

All of the above plus…

Group numbers/mixing
  • Mixing of multiple households is banned in all indoor settings 

Very high alert level (3).

Opening hours
  • Pubs and bars must close, unless you can operate as a restaurant and serve a substantial meal.
Group numbers/mixing
  • Mixing of households and support bubbles is not permitted in any hospitality or retail setting.
Face coverings
  • Face coverings must be worn by retail and hospitality staff in public facing roles.
  • Retail customers must wear face coverings at all times.
  • Hospitality customers must wear face coverings except when seated at a table to eat or drink.
  • Your business must remind customers to wear face coverings.

Exceptions – People who are already exempt from the existing face covering obligations, such as because of an underlying health condition, will continue to be exempt from these new obligations.

Service
  • Food and drink must be ordered from, served to and consumed at a table.
  • Music played on the premises must not exceed 85db(A) unless it’s a live performance.
  • Alcohol can only served with a substantial meal.
Customer/staff details
  • You must have a system in place to ensure that you can collect information from your customers and visitors.
  • Regardless of what system you choose to run yourself, you must also display an official NHS QR code poster which allows customers and visitors to ‘check-in’ These can be can be generated online. 
  • You must also have a system for collecting information from customers who do not have a smartphone.
  • You must ask at least one member of every party of customers or visitors (up to 6 people) to provide the following:
    • the name of the individual
    • a telephone number on which the individual may be contacted;
    • an e-mail address if the individual is unable to provide a telephone number;
    • a postal address if the individual is unable to provide an email address;
    • the date and time that the individual entered the relevant premises;
    • where the individual is a member of a group seeking permission to enter premises together, the number of people in that group (including any member of the group that has scanned a QR Code when seeking to enter the premises).If a customer uses the NHS QR Code and app, this discharges the obligation for the venue to collect their details.
  • Your must refuse entry to a customer who has not provided details, or you have reason to believe that the details provided are inaccurate.
  • You must keep a record of all staff working on your premises including shift times and contact details.
  • Keep these records of customers, visitors and staff for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested.
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