New Tier System Beginning Tomorrow

From tomorrow, 2 December, the lockdown will end and be replaced by the Tier system. As we are sure you have heard by now, Bournemouth has been placed in Tier 2.

For many of our businesses, the differences between Tiers 1 and 2 are minimal. In both tiers, retail, indoor leisure, personal care, accommodation and entertainment can open again, with office workers urged to work from home where possible. However, for the hospitality and night-time economy sectors, this news is crushing.

The Town Centre BID has written to our local MPs, lobbying them for support for our businesses. We have also got behind the campaigns for support from The Guest List, a local support group for the night-time economy, and The Wonky Table, a local support group for the hospitality industry.

Following our ‘Support Local’ campaign during lockdown, we are now in the process of pulling together some additional support for the hospitality and night-time economy sectors – more news on this to follow very soon.

In the meantime we would urge all our businesses to check your eligibility for the Additional Restrictions Support Grants (details below).

Tier 2 – What You Need to Know

The key points for businesses in Tier 2 are as follows:

• 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 with substantial meals
• 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; and 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
• everyone who can work from home should do so.

The first review of tier allocations will take place by Wednesday 16 December.

Read the full guidelines here