UK Parliament bars exempt from 10pm curfew

Parliament’s bars are exempt from the government’s new coronavirus restrictions imposed last week, including the 10pm curfew, stricter rules on face coverings and test and trace data-gathering requirements.

Bars in the House of Commons are not subject to the new rules for hospitality venues as they are designated “workplace canteens”.

Under the new rules, "workplace canteens may remain open where there is no practical alternative for staff at that workplace to obtain food”.

As well as being free to remain open beyond 10pm, the new, stricter rules regarding wearing face coverings and customers checking in at venues will also not apply to parliamentary bars, according to a report in The Times.

A spokesperson for the House of Commons confirmed that the new restrictions on hospitality do not apply to the venues on the parliamentary estate, saying: “As catering outlets providing a workplace service for over 3,100 people working on the Estate, the current regulations on hospitality venues do not apply to Commons facilities.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/parliament-bars-curfew-exempt-commons-workplace-canteen-pubs-b665366.html

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/parliament-s-bars-exempt-from-10pm-coronavirus-curfew-wb6g6bbgp