Three phases of reopening

Last week, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden MP announced three phases of reopening for some, but not all, English businesses.

Phase one – 11 July

Phase one of the reopening relates to a relatively small section of the leisure sector: open air swimming pools. Review the guidance for operators, including:

– limiting the number of people within the facility and pool itself, perhaps by using a mandatory online booking system;
– managing how people move through the facility;
– enhanced cleaning; and
– encouragement to shower and change at home, wherever possible (staff and customers).

A number of other leisure facilities may be reopened from the 25 July (see below).

In addition, from the 11 July some open air cultural performances can take place, including gigs, festivals and concerts, but only where they have a ‘limited and socially distanced audience’.

Phase two – 13 July

Phase two of the reopening relates to some, but not all, of the remaining ‘close contact’ facilities – including beauty services, (clothes) tailoring and sports and massage therapists.

This is different to other sectors, as the requirement for reopening is based on the type of service rather than the type of business. For example, a salon that offers one permitted and one forbidden service can open, but only deliver the permitted service. Forbidden services are those which require close proximity to the face. There is no exhaustive list, but some of the forbidden services include:

– face waxing;
-eyebrow threading;
– eyelash treatments; and
– some (‘intricate’) beard services

Review the guidance on close contact working. This is similar to guidance issued for those close contact services already reopened eg. hair salons using face shields, social distancing etc

Phase three – 25 July

Phase three will see many indoor fitness facilities reopen, including indoor pools, gyms and fitness and dance studios.

Please note that the guidance is the same as above

Remaining sectors

There are a number of sectors which have not been given a date to open (in addition to the beauty services above) including:

– Nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques;
– Casinos;
– Sexual entertainment venues and hostess bars;
– Bowling alleys;
– Indoor skating rinks;
– Indoor play areas, including soft-play areas; and
– Exhibition halls or conference centres which 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

Please note that, whilst theatres can technically open, indoor plays, concert gigs etc. cannot be held until further notice – although there are some pilots going ahead this weekend to test how this might work. Beyond that, we have not been given a timetable for when decisions on further reopening might be taken. The BCC team will continue to push for that clarity as far as possible.