When Boris Johnson laid out his roadmap “to recovery” for England in February, one of the many things people were hoping to find out was when restaurants would reopen.
In his speech, the prime minister explained that lifting restrictions depends on four tests: the success of the vaccine deployment programme, evidence that vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations, confirmation that infection rates not surging, and that the assessment of these risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of the virus.
If all this goes to plan then we can expect to see restrictions continue to be removed: the first restrictions were lifted on 8 March, with schools and colleges reopening.
Additionally, two people from different households are now permitted to meet outside for recreation - this includes having “coffee on a bench”.
Read more:
- When will pub gardens reopen?
- When will shops reopen including clothes and charity stores?
- When will gyms reopen?
- When can we travel again? Key lockdown easing dates
But what does all this mean for restaurants? Here’s everything you need to know.
When might restaurants reopen?
Restaurants, pubs, and cafes can reopen for outdoor dining in England no earlier than 12 April.
In terms of indoor dining, Mr Johnson said that venues could begin to serve limited numbers of customers inside dining rooms no earlier than 17 May.
Read more: Lockdown roadmap: What is reopening and when?
The rule of six or two-household rule will apply, along with social distancing measures.
However, there will be no curfew, or substantial meal rule, but customers will only be able to order through table service.
Will we see a return of the regional tiered system?
The easing of restrictions applies across England, with measures no longer being implemented on a regional basis.
However, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said the government will have to leave room for “highly local” interventions.
He told Times Radio: “I think they are going to have to keep the possibility of having much more targeted interventions in certain areas.”
What have the experts said?
Sage member Professor John Edmunds has said rapid easing could lead to a surge in hospital admissions “and indeed deaths”, and placed emphasis on vaccinations.
He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “We’re all at risk and we can all spread the virus, and so, until we’ve all been vaccinated - I include children here - then there is going to be significant risk of a resurgence.”
