The main restrictions that are likely to be most relevant to your business are set out below. Following the amendment of Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 and their impact on licensed premises, you're advised to read ‘the regulations’, which can be found on  at the GOV.uk website.

A summary of 'tier 2: high alert':

• All meetings in indoor Covid-secure retail and hospitality that are within an area designated 'alert level high' must be limited to one household or support bubble (unless exemptions apply)
• All meetings in outdoor public spaces, outdoor Covid-secure retail and hospitality that are within an area designated 'alert level high' must be limited to six people
• Businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a Covid-secure manner, other than those which remain closed by law, such as nightclubs
• Pubs and bars must close, unless operating as restaurants. Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol as part of a table meal, and the meal is such as might be expected to be served as breakfast, the main midday or main evening meal, or as a main course at such a meal. A “table meal” is a meal eaten by a person seated at a table, or at a counter or other structure which serves the purposes of a table and is not used for the service of refreshments for consumption by persons not seated at a table or structure serving the purposes of a table.
• Hospitality businesses selling food or drink for consumption on their premises are required to:
• provide table service only, in premises which sell alcohol
• close between 11pm and 5am (hospitality venues in airports, ports, transport services and motorway service areas are exempt)
• stop taking orders after 10pm
• Hospitality businesses and venues selling food and drink for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• Early closure (11pm) applies to casinos, cinemas, theatres, museums, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls. Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can stay open beyond 11pm in order to conclude performances that start before 10pm
• Public attendance at outdoor and indoor events (performances and shows) is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2000 people outdoors or 1000 people indoors
• Public attendance at spectator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, subject to social contact rules and limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2000 people outdoors or 1000 people indoors

These restrictions apply to any area adjacent to a premises where seating is made available for customers, or which its customers habitually use for consumption of food or drink served by the business.

In relation to hotels or other accommodation, food or drink provided as room service is not to be treated as being provided for consumption ‘on’ its premises.

These restrictions intend to limit the amount of time spent in hospitality and thus mitigate the risks posed by extended exposure time. By ensuring that people are eating and are not attending a venue solely to drink alcohol, the risk of falling inhibition leading to a lack of social distancing measures is reduced.

Further government guidance that you are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with can be found on the GOV.uk website.

Should you wish to discuss any of the matters raised or require further advice, please don't hesitate to contact the Licensing Team for further advice.