8 April 2021

Businesses able to open in Stage 2 of the Spring Roadmap

As part of the Spring Roadmap, England will move to stage 2 of the spring roadmap on 12 April 2021. This means that certain businesses will be able to reopen, although with certain restrictions in place.

From 12 April, the following business sectors will be allowed to reopen: 

• non-essential retail 
• personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons 
• public buildings such as libraries and community centres 
• outdoor hospitality venues , with table service only
• most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances (such as cinemas and concerts) 
• some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds will be able to take place
• indoor leisure and sports facilities  for individual exercise, or exercise with a household or support bubble
• all childcare and supervised activities will be allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number)
• weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events will be able to take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens
• self-contained accommodation for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble

If your business can continue to operate from home, then they should

If businesses cannot work from home then they should continue to travel to your workplace. This includes, but is not limited to, people who work in:

• critical national infrastructure
• construction
• manufacturing
• childcare or education
• essential public services
• essential retail, such as supermarkets and pharmacies

You do not need to be classed as a critical worker to go to work if you cannot work from home.

COVID-secure guidelines are available for sectors across the economy to substantially reduce the risk of transmission.