04 WFL 112020 OUTPUT:Layout 1 20/12/2020 17:20 Page 4
SPECIAL FEATURE
Government extends takeaway services provision for restaurants and cafés 2021 but has now been extended by another year. The Government said it will also consider whether to make these reforms permanent. The freedoms introduced in March and now extended mean pubs and restaurants can focus on selling food
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick
Restaurants, cafés and pubs have been given automatic freedoms to provide takeaway services for another year, without having to seek planning permission, The government announcement, made in mid-November by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, follows on from a similar move in March, at the height of the UK’s first lockdown. ‘Automatic freedoms’ mean that businesses wanting to provide takeaway services do not have to seek planning permission; this was originally set to last until March
With rules changing all the time, here’s a round-up of some of the latest regulations for pubs and restaurants in the UK. England is split into three tiers, with rules varying depending on which tier your business is located in. ● In Tier 1, hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to provide table service only and for premises that serve alcohol, they must close between 11pm and 5am. They must also stop taking orders after 10pm. ● In Tier 2, pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals and those hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to: provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol. Businesses must also close between 11pm and 5am and stop taking orders after 10pm. ● In Tier 3, hospitality settings,
4
takeaways if they choose to, while being able to return to operating as a pub or restaurant when current rules permit them to open again as normal. In July, the government also made it easier for businesses and communities to host markets and stalls, and this such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed – they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services. This advice for Wales is due to be reviewed on 17 December. ● Currently, restaurants, bars and public houses, including within members’ clubs, must close at 6pm. Food delivery and takeaway can continue and businesses which only provided food for consumption on their premises can now provide takeaway food after 6pm. Scotland is following a five-level system from 0 to 4. Pubs and restaurants in Level 2 can only serve alcohol indoors with main meals, those in Level 3 can remain open but cannot sell alcohol inside or outside, while those in Level 4 areas must remain closed. In Northern Ireland, a two-week lockdown ended on 11 December, enabling restaurants, cafes and hotels to trade, although they must close by 11pm each day.
