The government has announced that it will be simplifying and reducing the costs of the licensing process for outdoor stalls and seating so that it’s easier for customers to drink and eat outside safely.
The change to the rules will mean that summer fairs, pop-up car boot sales and outdoor markets won’t need to submit a planning application, while pubs and restaurants will be able to use terraces and car parks as dining areas under their current seating licences.
Licensing laws are also going to be changed temporarily so that more licensed premises are able to sell alcohol for consumption away from the site itself, which should help make social distancing easier.
Councils will still need to carry on making sure that their local communities are consulted on licensing applications, with access to pavements and pedestrianised areas uncompromised, and with waste disposed of responsibly.
Business secretary Alok Sharma said: “Our pubs, restaurants and cafes are the lifeblood of high streets and town centres across the country and we are doing all we can to ensure they can bounce back as quickly and safely as possible.
“This week we gave our vital hospitality sector the green light to reopen from July 4th, and today we are introducing new legislation to enable businesses to make the most of the crucial summer months ahead.”
The idea is to help businesses transition from crisis response towards economic recovery, helping them introduce new ways of working to manage the ongoing risks posed by coronavirus, with a particular emphasis on social distancing.
New laws are also set to be introduced to allow for more freedom over how land is used by doubling the length of time that temporary structures can be erected without planning permission in place.
Restaurants planning on reopening on July 4th or later may want to look at what other similar businesses are doing in order to operate in a covid-secure way.
Many sites are now offering reduced food offerings to make it easier and you may decide that the best course of action is to make use of disposable menus for the time being to help reduce the chances of the virus being spread.
Fewer tables will be seen in restaurants, while table service will be prioritised to reduce the numbers of people walking through the premises. And hand sanitiser on tables is also likely to be one of the lasting legacies of the pandemic.
Being flexible at the moment is wise, however, since regional lockdowns are likely to be seen over the coming months (as has just been seen in Leicester), so monitoring the situation and adjusting your business operations as required will no doubt help you stay open and keep the customers satisfied in some way or another.
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