On 23 June 2020, the Prime Minister announced further easements of the Coronavirus restrictions as part of Step Three of the government’s plan to return life to as near normal as we can. This guidance applies in England – people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should follow the specific rules in those parts of the UK.
In addition, all businesses and venues can reopen from 4 July, except for the list below, which remain closed by law:
- Nightclubs
- Casinos
- Bowling alleys and Indoor skating rinks
- Indoor play areas including soft-play
- Spas
- Nail bars, beauty salons and tanning salons
- Massage, tattoo and piercing parlours
- Indoor fitness and dance studios, and indoor gyms and sports venues/facilities
- Swimming pools including water parks
- Exhibition or conference centres must remain closed for events such as exhibitions or conferences, other than for those who work for the business or organisation who run the venue.
Cafes, restaurants and shops that are self-contained and can be accessed from the outside, will still be permitted to open.
The UK government will continue to phase reopening and hope to reopen other close-contact businesses as soon as possible.
All other businesses and venues can reopen from 4 July. Examples are available here including links to guidance to ensure their safe-reopening.
Reopen your business safely during Coronavirus
Employers that want to reopen their business have a legal responsibility to protect their employees and other people on site. Use this UK government guidance to help you carry out a risk assessment and make sensible adjustments to the site and workforce.
- If you do not carry out a risk assessment, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or your local council can issue an enforcement notice.
- Employees can use this guidance to check what their workplace needs to do to keep people safe.
- This guidance is only for businesses that are allowed to reopen in England.
Working safely during Coronavirus
People and employers should stay safe in public spaces and workplaces by following the government’s “Working safely during Coronavirus” guidelines. This should enable more people to go back to work, where they cannot work from home, and encourage more vulnerable children and the children of critical workers to go to school or childcare as already permitted.
Shops in England selling non-essential goods can now re-open provided they follow government guidelines to keep staff and customers as safe as possible. The government issued detailed COVID-19 secure guidance for retailers and other sectors. Businesses should display a downloadable notice to inform customers and staff they have followed COVID-secure guidance.
Following earlier easements in May and June, from the 4 July, further businesses and venues will be allowed to open. For further details, please see the section on Official guidance from UK government.
