Covid 19 - What you need to know - new obligations on Hospitality Industry come into force.

The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Obligations of Hospitality Undertakings) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on Friday (19th September 2020).

The regulations impose restrictions on specified premise until 18th September 2021 (although the need for the measure will be reviewed after 6 months).

A person responsible for carrying on a business of a public house, café, restaurant or other relevant business (i.e. a business which provides food or drink for consumption on its premises) must, during the emergency period, take all reasonable measures to ensure that:

1. no bookings for a table are accepted for a group of more than six persons unless one of the exemptions in regulation 5 of the Principal Regulations applies;
2. no persons are admitted to the premises in a group of more than six, unless one of the exemptions in regulation 5 of the Principal Regulations applies;
3. no person in one qualifying group mingles with any person in another qualifying group where this is not permitted under the Principal Regulations;
4. an appropriate distance is maintained between tables occupied by different qualifying groups.  

For the purposes of this regulation an “appropriate distance” means a distance between tables of:

• at least two metres,
• at least one metre, if
• there are barriers or screens between tables; 
• the tables are arranged with back to back seating, or otherwise arranged to ensure that persons sitting at one table do not face any person sitting at another table at a distance of less than two metres; 
• other measures are taken to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus between people sitting at different tables;

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in a criminal conviction and fine of £1,000 (increasing to £4,000 for three or more infractions).