When do pubs and restaurants close at 10pm? New coronavirus lockdown curfew rules explained
ALL pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues across England must close at 10pm tonight under a new coronavirus clampdown.
The UK could be plunged into a second national lockdown if restrictions are flouted, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has warned.
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When will the curfew come into effect?
A 10pm curfew for all pubs and hospitality venues is in place across England from tonight (Thursday, September 24) - where doors will have to be closed.
The measure comes in about three months after restaurants and pubs were allowed to reopen premises.
How will the curfew work?
PM Boris Johnson said the new 10pm curfew means physically "closing and not just calling for last orders".
So that means all pubs and restaurants in England are legally obliged to shut at 10pm.
That'll most likely result in last orders being called at 9.30pm to ensure boozers are empty to comply with the new closing time.
What are the new opening hours?
Businesses selling food or drink must be closed between 10pm and 5am.
The time that pubs are actually open after 5am to serve customers will depend on their individual premises licence.
But all landlords across England are legally required to shut from 10pm till 5am under the new, temporary government rules.
Its new measures apply to: cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants, social clubs, casinos, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, indoor leisure centres, funfairs, theme parks, adventure parks and activities, and bingo halls.
Can I meet friends in the pub and restaurants?
The rule of six applies when going to pubs and restaurants.
Venues following Covid-19 secure guidelines can host more than six people in total, but no one should visit in a group of greater than six, the government says.
And there should be no more than six people per table, in line with the new rules.
Pubs and restaurants will only be able to take bookings of up to six people, who can be from different households.
But, from September 24 it's "illegal" to be in a group of more than six from outside your household or support bubble in a pub or restaurant, the government adds.
If your household and/or support bubble is larger than six people, this is your largest permitted group and you cannot meet as a group with any additional people.
Don't forget that Boris Johnson has doubled the fine for anyone who fails to wear a face mask to £200 - and has ordered people to wear them in restaurants and pubs too.
"The penalty for failing to wear a mask or breaking the rule of six will now double to £200 for a first offence," he added.
Why is there a curfew?
The main aim of the 10pm curfew is to curb the social spread of Covid-19, and avoid a second coronavirus wave.
By limiting pub and restaurant opening hours, you also limit the amount of time people are spending in close contact with others.
Mr Johnson said he was "deeply, spiritually reluctant" to infringe on people's freedoms.
But, unless action is taken now there will be a need for harsher regulations later "when the deaths have already mounted", he added.
On September 22, Mr Johnson said the nation faces an "unquestionably difficult" winter and warned the latest restrictions could last the next six months.
The chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland raised the coronavirus alert from three to four, the second-highest level, on the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Centre.
They said on September 21 that Covid-19 cases were rising “rapidly and probably exponentially.”
Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Vallance and Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said after a slow rise in new infections over the summer, the number of new coronavirus cases is now doubling every seven days.
They warned that new infections could increase tenfold to almost 50,000 a day next month if nothing is done now.
Coronavirus cases are rising across ALL age groups in the UK and will "inevitably" hit the elderly over winter if left unchecked, the experts added.
How will a curfew help to slow the spread of Covid-19?
Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, told HuffPost UK: “The longer people are in these venues, the more they probably let their guard down and the mix of social distancing and alcohol is not a good one despite the best efforts of publicans and venue owners.”
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told Sky's Sophy Ridge: “I think there's an issue about social occasions and social events and particularly young people getting together and enjoying themselves sometimes a bit too much and forgetting the importance of the rules."
There have been links between the virus spreading from those who are infected giving the bug to friends while out drinking.
For example, a holidaymaker was blamed for "sparking a Covid spike in Bolton" after returning from Ibiza.
Under the Government rules, he should have quarantined for a two-week period at his home in the Lancashire town.
But instead the Covidiot left his home on several occasions to go to the shops, and even threw a house party attended by his pals.
Will pubs and restaurants be shut down if they break the rules?
Businesses will face £10,000 fines or closure for failing to comply with regulations, and people risk £200 penalties is they do not wear masks or breach the "rule of six".
So that means pubs and restaurants which fail to follow the new rules starting from September 24 could be shut down on the spot.
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They must ensure there are no more than six at a socially distanced table, and groups are banned from mingling.
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The promised clampdown will happen through patrols, and groups could be broken up and fined.
The military could be used to free up police officers to tackle coronavirus rule-breakers, and Boris Johnson said the measures may need to be in place for a further six months.