New Rules / Limits For UK Business / Spectator Events

Russ Curry, Ministry of New Media

The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this week that events of up to 4,000 people will be allowed to take place from December 2, 2020, i.e. the current temporary limit of 30 people for a single business event has been scrapped.

Our understanding is that this winter plan sets the limits for events depending on whether the event is indoors or outdoors.

  1. In Tier 1 areas, venues will be limited to either 50 per cent capacity or 4,000 people outdoors and 1,000 indoors, whichever is lower.
  2. In Tier 2 areas, venues will be limited to either 50 per cent capacity or 2,000 people outdoors and 1,000 indoors, whichever is lower. All events will be subject to social distancing.
  3. Events will not be allowed to take place in Tier 3 areas.

Boris Johnson said “In Tiers 1 and 2, spectator sports and business events will be able to resume indoors and outside with capacity limits and social distancing, providing more consistency with performances in theatres and concert halls.”

The Meetings Industry Association (mia), Association of Event Organisers (AEO), Association of Event Venues (AEV), and the Event Supplier and Services Association (ESSA), made the following joint statement.

“The business events sector warmly welcomes the announcement that the sector will be able to reopen under the revised Tier system. This integrates the business events sector with sports and performing arts sectors, providing the consistency for which the associations have been fighting. Since the start of the pandemic members of all four associations have worked tirelessly with their constituency MPs and government officials to get the industry reopened. Today’s news provides welcome relief to many individuals and businesses hit hard when the industry was stopped suddenly in March 2020. The dialogue between the four associations, government officials and ministers has never been stronger, clearly demonstrating that there is a safe way for business events to return by sharing knowledge and developments in both the guidance and the pilot events. Thanks is also due to all the government officials at DCMS and BEIS who have worked tirelessly with the associations to help business return safely.”

Venues hosting business meetings and events will need to comply with the Meeting Industry Association’s government-approved guidelines, while larger events will need to adhere to the AEO, AEV, and ESSA’s All Secure Standard.


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