England's Roadmap out of lockdown:what it means for clubs

The following is a summary of the Four Steps and explains what the new restrictions will mean to clubs and the broader hospitality sector.

Step 1

Club specific: Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and open-air swimming pools, be allowed to reopen from 29 March. People will be able to take part in formally organised outdoor sports.

Other:

Children and students return to schools and colleges (from 8 March).
People will be allowed to leave home for recreation and exercise outdoors with their household or support bubble.
Care home residents will be allowed one regular visitor.
From 29 March, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either six people (the Rule of 6) or two households will be allowed.
The ‘stay at home’ rule will end on 29 March with restrictions still in place. People should continue to work from home where they can.
Travel abroad will continue to be prohibited, other than for a small number of permitted reasons.

Step 2 (no earlier than April 12)

Club specific Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors from April 12 (phrased by the Government as 'no earlier than April 12'). Members/customers will not need to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and there will be no curfew. Table service: members/customers can only order, eat and drink while seated. Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.

Community centres and indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups),as will most outdoor attractions including outdoor hospitality venues.

Other

Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.
Non-essential retail will open including personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons, as will public buildings, including libraries.
Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.
Funerals can continue with up to 30 mourners. The number of people able to attend weddings, receptions and commemorative events such as wakes will rise to 15.

Step 3 (no earlier than 17 May)

Club Specific Indoor hospitality will reopen from May 17 (phrased by the Government as 'no earlier than May 17'), but customers will still have to order, eat and drink while seated. As in Step 2, there is no curfew and no need to serve a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks.

Sports clubs/sporting events & performances Other indoor locations to open up in Step 3 include indoor adult group sports and exercise classes.

Some larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number) may be allowed and in outdoor venues with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full (whichever is a lower number). In the largest outdoor seated venues, where crowds can be spread out, up to 10,000 people will be able to attend (or a quarter-full, whichever is lower).

Other

Most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able to reopen.
In all sectors, COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and businesses may not cater for groups bigger than the legal limits.
Indoor entertainment venues such as children’s play areas, hotels, hostels and B&Bs are allowed to open.
Easing limits on seeing friends and family wherever possible will take place and most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted, although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will apply. This will be kept under review as will the advice on social distancing between friends and family, including hugging.
Up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals. This limit will also apply to bar mitzvahs and christenings, among other similar events.
Pre Step 4, the government will complete a review of social distancing and other long-term measures that have been put in place to cut transmission. This will inform decisions on the timing and circumstances under which the rules on 1 metre plus, the wearing of face coverings and other measures may be lifted. This will also inform guidance on working from home – which should continue wherever possible until this review is complete.

Step 4 (no earlier than 21 June)

At this point the Government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact.

PM Boris Johnson: “We hope to reopen remaining premises, including nightclubs, and ease the restrictions on large events and performances that apply in Step 3. This will be subject to the results of a scientific Events Research Programme to test the outcome of certain pilot events through the spring and summer, where we will trial the use of testing and other techniques to cut the risk of infection. The same Events Research Programme will guide decisions on whether all limits can be removed on weddings and other life events.

“As we move through each of these phases in the roadmap, we must all remember that COVID-19 remains a part of our lives. We are going to have to keep living our lives differently to keep ourselves and others safe. We must carry on with ‘hands, face, space’. Comply with the COVID-Secure measures that remain in place. Meet outdoors when we can and keep letting fresh air in. Get tested when needed. Get vaccinated when offered. If we all continue to play our part, we will be that bit closer to a future that is more familiar.”