Hospitality Business Guidance

1. The latest advice and guidance
2. Workplace safety guidance
3. Face coverings
4. Grants and Business rates support
5. Useful Links

1. The latest advice and guidance

On February 22, the prime minister set out a roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions in England.

Under Step One of the plan, the first changes will come into effect on Monday, March 8.

Step 1 - from 8 March

Businesses permitted to open remain the same as allowed under restrictions.

In addition, businesses eligible to host childcare and supervised activities for children (such as community centres or libraries) will be able to host these activities for children providing that they are necessary to enable parents to work, seek work, attend education, seek medical care, or attend a support group. Fo the latest guidance please go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safe-working-in-education-childcare-and-childrens-social-care.

From 29 March

Some further settings are now permitted to open.

This includes outdoor sports facilities such as:

• gyms
• swimming pools
• sports courts (such as tennis and basketball courts)
• golf courses, including mini golf
• water sports venues
• climbing walls
• driving and shooting ranges
• riding arenas at riding centres
• archery venues

People can use these venues in a group of six people, or with members of up to two households.

At this step, formally organised outdoor sport will also return - this can include a larger number of participants, provided that appropriate steps are taken to make it COVID-Secure in line with the law. Indoor facilities, such as changing rooms, should not be used at this time, although toilet facilities can be accessed. At this stage, these gatherings must only include participants - not spectators.

Businesses eligible to host childcare and supervised activities for children will now be able to host all outdoor children’s activities, and outdoor parent-and child groups for up to 15 people (not counting those aged under five).

Details of the new rules, and how they will affect Bolton residents, can be found on https://www.bolton.gov.uk.

You should refer to the closures guidance for the latest rules for closing certain businesses and venues in England.

The government has published the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ setting out the roadmap out of the current lockdown for England. This is a step-by-step plan to ease restrictions in England cautiously.

Due to the current relatively uniform spread of the virus across the country, the four steps set out in the roadmap are designed to apply to all regions. The indicative, ‘no earlier than’ dates for Steps 2, 3 and 4 of in the roadmap are all contingent on the data and subject to change.

In order to support licensed premises to plan to re-open in line with the Governments Roadmap, our licensing team are asking businesses to complete a short survey and provide details of their plans and risk assessment. You can complete the form for your premise online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Pre-openingBolton.

Businesses and venues which can remain open

Other businesses and venues are permitted to stay open, following COVID-19 secure guidelines. This includes those providing essential goods and services, including:

• essential retail such as food shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, garden centres, building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences
• market stalls selling essential retail may also stay open
• businesses providing repair services may also stay open, where they primarily offer repair services
• petrol stations, automatic (but not manual) car washes, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, and taxi and vehicle hire businesses
• banks, building societies, post offices, short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses
• funeral directors
• laundrettes and dry cleaners
• medical and dental services
• vets and pet shops
• animal rescue centres, boarding facilities, and animal groomers (may continue to be used for animal welfare, rather than aesthetic purposes)
• agricultural supplies shops
• mobility and disability support shops
• storage and distribution facilities
• car parks, public toilets and motorway service areas
• outdoor playgrounds
• outdoor gym, pools, sports courts and facilities
• golf courses
• archery/driving/shooting ranges (outdoors)
• outdoor riding centres
• places of worship
• crematoriums and burial grounds

A number of new covid regulations came into force on on 6th January and these include the change that restricted businesses (on sale licences) can now only sell alcohol via home delivery and off sales from on licensed premises are now unlawful. To check the latest regulation go to https://www.legislation.gov.uk/coronavirus.

2. Workplace safety guidance

The Government are seeking views on how the Protect Duty can make the public safer at publicly accessible locations.   This includes hospitality venues so this ‘protect duty’ could affect you so please take time to feed into this important consultation by following the link here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/protect-duty

We understand that this continues to be a worrying and distressing time for businesses and raises many questions.  Please be assured that we are working hard with our partners in health and elsewhere to keep all our residents safe and to do everything we can to help businesses to continue to run in the safest way possible.

The safety of you and your staff and the safety of your customers remains paramount in enabling this to take place and we continue to offer any assistance we can to provide extra support for the hospitality sector.

A letter has recently been posted out to all licensed premises, to see a copy fo the letter please follow this link.
 
Please see below a link to the latest information available for settings including;

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Pubs
• Cafes
• Takeaways

This guidance outlines;  

• Practical actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19
• How to use NHS Track & Trace
• What to do in the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case(s)
• Contact information should you need further assistance

For the latest Government Guidance on working safely please go to www.gov.uk

3. Face coverings

It  is important that you ensure that your staff are wearing face-coverings in areas that that are open to the public and where they're likely to come into contact witha member of the public. 

A face covering is: something which safely covers the nose and mouth. You can buy reusable or single-use face coverings.

If businesses have taken steps to create a physical barrier or screen between workers and members of the public then staff behind the barrier or screen will not be required to wear a face covering. Enforcement action can be taken if barriers and screens are in place which do not adequately mitigate risks.
 
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) can issue fines (Fixed Penalty Notices - £200) to those who fail to wear face coverings. 
 
The latest guidance has been issued by Government in relation to working safely in takeaways, cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs.  Guidance in being updated all the time, so please ensure you remain up to date on any changes.

Please download this poster and display in a visable location in the relevant area to act as a reminder for customers and staff about wearing face coverings. 

If you fail to display such a notice you can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice for £1000 by Bolton Council.

The situation will be monitored and and any continued non – compliance will be reported to GMP.
 
In order to minimise the spread of coronavirus throughout the population - everyone must play their part. 
 
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to make contact with the team at environmentalhealthcovidinbox@bolton.gov.uk.

4. Business rates and grant support

Financial Support for Businesses

For the latest information and grant support please go to www.businessbolton.org/covid19.

Other Government support and funding

For further information on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, Self Employment Support Scheme and other financial support available to help your business during Covid-19  - find out the latest information here.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced on 9 December 2020 that business owners affected by the pandemic will be protected from eviction until the end of March 2021.  See the updated code of conduct for commercial landlords and tenants.

5. Useful Information

• #Openforbusiness - if you would like free promotional materials to support your business, including posters and floor stickers contact the team or download posters at www.bolton.gov.uk.
• Redundancy support - if your business is experiencing financial difficulties, further information and support is available here .
• If your job is at risk or you've been made redundant you are not alone, The Licensed Trade Charity have helped over 50,000 people this year. You can talk to them about money, redundancy, back to work support and mental health. Call FREE 24/7 on 0808 801 0550.
• Working Well Early Help offer quick, free access to mental and physical health therapies and can support you and your staff with out NHS backed service which is quick and free to use.  Call 0300 456 8107 or Email: workingwellearlyhelp@maximusuk.co.uk