Since last March and due to the Coronavirus pandemic, governments worldwide periodically review and update the service restrictions applicable to restaurants, bars, cafes and hotels. Find updated information about the topic on this article.

Read this other article of our Corona series if you want to learn about what key measures to implement on your gastronomy business to keep your customers and team members safe.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, restrictions differ from England and Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

For official information, please visit the British government's website.

England

In England, a risk-based strategy points to which restriction tier is to be applied in each region.

  • At Tier 1 (medium alert): groups of up to 6 people only can gather in hospitality venues. Pubs, restaurants and cafes (including those inside hotels) must remain closed between 23:00 and 5:00, taking last orders by 22:00. These restrictions apply to takeaway, but not to delivery, click-and-collect and drive-through. Hotels can provide food and drink outside the closing times as long as it is ordered by phone or online.
  • At Tier 2 (high alert) Tier 1 restrictions apply, and also: only venues operating as restaurants (that is, providing substantial meals) can remain open, respecting the Tier 1 restrictions stated above.
  • At Tier 3 (very high alert): Hotels should only be open for guests that travel with work-related purposes.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs must remain closed, with the exception of businesses providing food and drink for takeaway, which must close at 23:00.

Hotels and other accommodation providers can remain open, but operate on a restricted basis: only for residents, work-related purposes, vulnerable people, those in emergency situations and those unable to return to their main address.

Scotland

In Scotland, a risk-based strategy points to which restrictions are to be applied by local authorities.

Minimum interpersonal distance, face covering and thorough, frequent disinfection must be ensured at all times, no matter the level.

  • At Level 0: licensing times apply for both indoors and outdoors dining services.
  • At Level 1: last entry by 21:30 and closing time by 22:30 for both indoors and outdoors dining areas.
  • At Level 2: last entry by 19:00 and closing time by 20:00 for indoors areas; last entry by 21:30 and closing time by 22:30 for outdoors areas.
  • At Level 3: last entry by 17:00 and closing time by 18:00 for both indoors and outdoors areas.
  • At Level 4: all hospitality venues must close.

Wales

In Wales, all hospitality venues must close by 18:00 (but for takeaway services, which can be provided until 22:00 and must be consumed off the premises).

Hotels and other accommodation providers can remain open, but their gastronomy venues must also close by 18:00 for non-residents and by 22:00 for residents.

  • Alcohol cannot be sold nor consumed in bars, pubs or restaurants.
  • Groups of up to 4 people only can gather in hospitality settings.

Italy

In Italy, the national government implemented a risk-based strategy to decide which restrictions apply to each region.

  • In Yellow areas: restaurants and bars must close by 18:00, with the exemption of takeaway services (which can be provided until 22:00) and delivery (which is not subject to any additional restriction).
  • In Orange areas: restaurants and bars must remain closed. Takeaway services can be provided until 22:00. Delivery is not subject to any additional restriction.
  • In Red areas: restriction apply as in Orange areas (see above) for restaurants and bars.

For official information, please visit the Italian government's website.

Spain

In Spain, each Autonomous Community decides on the curfew and capacity restrictions for bars, cafés and restaurants since November, 2020. To learn more about what these restrictions are in each region, please visit our page in Spanish.

For official information, please visit the Spanish government's website.

France

In France, the national government published which hygiene and safety measures are mandatory for the whole of the country:

  • Groups of maximum 6 people per table
  • Minimum distance of 1m between tables
  • Face coverings for clients, until moment food or drink consumption, and staff in reception, lounge and kitchen
  • For areas with a curfew, hospitality venues must be closed by 21:00

For official information, please visit the French government's website.

Germany

In Germany, the national government, in agreement with the regional councils, decided to extend the partial lockdown active since November, 2020: bars, restaurants and cafes must remain closed (with exemption of takeaway and delivery services) until 10th January, 2021.

For official information, please visit the German government's website.

 

This is a Coronavirus blog post series

We are keeping our community up to date with the latest news affecting the HoReCa sector during the Coronavirus pandemic. As the situation is evolving on a day to day basis, we are updating our blog posts as fast as possible. If you have ideas or feedback, please tweet our team at @menu_tech.

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