This advice has been updated 13th December 2021. It covers general rules, advice on procedures and links to key documents you should read for each nation. The pace of change is now so rapid that, rather than attempt to keep the website updated, we have a document which can be referred to or downloaded if you are searching for a specific piece of guidance. This will be updated regularly so please refer back to it at the link below for any latest updates.
England Only – Update on move to Plan B
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 8th Dec 2021 further information has been shared for the changes being made to England in the coming days: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-confirms-move-to-plan-b-in-england
This details a number of new measures as part of the further move into Plan B – We encourage all members with venues in England to read the above statement and the following additional summary we have received below
From Friday 10th Dec 2021, face coverings will be legally mandated in most indoor public areas in England, including theatres and cinemas. There will be exemptions where it is not practical, such as when eating, drinking, exercising or singing. For that reason, face masks will not be required in hospitality settings.
From Monday 13th Dec 2021, Government is advising people to work from home if they can.
From Wednesday 15th Dec, introducing mandatory Covid status certification in certain settings. This will include not only vaccination status but also include Lateral Flow Test information for entry
There are limits to where vaccine certification will be introduced:
- All nightclubs, and other venues open after 1am with alcohol, music, and dancing, irrespective of capacity.
- Indoor unseated venues settings with 500 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to be in close proximity to people from other households, such as larger music venues.
- Unseated outdoor with 4,000 or more attendees where those attendees are likely to be in close proximity to people from other households, such as outdoor festivals; and
- Any settings with 10,000 or more attendees, such as large sports and music stadia
We are seeking to gain further clarity for members around a number of specifics, particularly
- The exact settings requirements for face coverings
- Employee requirements
- How change of use in a space will affect both face coverings and Covid status certification
- In particular the responsibility to be placed on businesses around signage and enforcement
The current guidance for shops regarding face coverings states:
“Customers are required by law to wear face coverings in all shops, including premises providing close contact services. Staff must also wear face coverings in areas where they are likely to come into contact with members of the public. You must notify your customers that they are required to wear a face covering, for example by using signs. However, you are not responsible for enforcing face covering requirements.”
We would not expect the guidance to be any more stringent in our settings, however we are hoping to gain confirmation of this ahead of Friday 10th Dec 2021 as well as around the statement about hospitality settings above.
Guidance on GOV.UK will be updated to reflect these changes in the coming days so please check here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-covid-19
Signage Assets – Once further guidance has been given, you may want to update your venue signage using our Revive Live assets which can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/3jb4csuh
We will continue to update members as we gain further clarification and if any further changes are announced. We would encourage all members to reassure staff and customers who will no doubt have questions at this time that you are continuing to put their safety as your priority
England Only – Covid Certification Checks
The Government has today (13th Dec 2021) published guidance on who must and how to administer mandatory covid-19 status checks from Wednesday if the legislation is passed. This guidance can be found here.
We recommend all english MVA members read this guidance, even if you do not fall within the list of spaces or activities where this will be mandatory.
Venues and events where the NHS COVID Pass, or alternative proofs of COVID-19 status, must be used as a condition of entry are:
- Indoor events with 500 or more attendees, where those attendees are likely to stand or move around for all or part of the event, such as music venues with standing audiences or large receptions – some other exceptions apply
- Nightclubs, dancehalls and discotheques
- Other late night dance venues, where all of the following apply:
- The venue is open between 1am and 5am
- It serves alcohol after 1am
- It has a dancefloor (or space for dancing)
- It provides music, whether live or recorded, for dancing
The guidance sets out with examples who will be required to ask for Covid- 19 certification, the methods you can accept (Covid Pass or text showing LFT results registered) and advice on how to administer the checks.
Some important points that have come from the LIVE meeting today (13th Dec 2021) for those venues that have to implement it:
- Communicate the measures and what attendees will require
- If not required to implement and not voluntarily checking consider updating attendees as to why
- Ensure staff understand the requirements and measures you are putting in place
- Update your risk assessment
- Ensure that staff are trained on what checks are required and to check that ID details match those on the Covid Pass or LFT text messages
- If accepting LFT text messages check that the sender is NHSresult or other official sender to ensure message isn’t being forwarded on
- Check what records you must keep for each event
The Guidance issued covers a variety of venues but is comprehensive and answers a number of questions including international attendees, natural immunity and when to implement the checks.
The NHS COVID Pass no longer gives details of natural immunity for entering certain venues and events. Proof of natural immunity cannot be accepted as an alternative to proof of vaccination or a recent test.
Venues can choose what measures to put in place, and whether checks should begin from either:
- The time the venue opens
- The time the rules apply (from 1am)
Whichever option is chosen, you must make sure you’ve taken reasonable steps to make sure that all visitors who are in the venue between the hours of 1am and 5am have the NHS COVID Pass (or other accepted evidence), even if they entered the premises before that time.
We recommend you discuss with you local authority and enforcement officers around the requirements, whether you fall into the category of venues affected and if so, the level of checking they expect as some larger venues may be able to spot check. If you have any concerns then please get in touch with your Coordinators.
Reopening as a Live Music Venue
If you wish to do this, you should take the following steps:
- Read the appropriate workplace guidance for each area of your business – each nation has its own performing arts and hospitality guidance
- Read and follow MVT‘s latest updates on Legislation & Guidance
- Undertake a Risk Assessment
- Communicate that Risk Assessment to your licensing authority and public protection unit for confirmation that they agree you have met the guidelines
- Constantly deliver all the steps within your risk assessment while open
MVT does not claim to be an expert in running a pub, bar or restaurant. It is, however, important to us as a charity that you do not place your premises licence to act as a Grassroots Music Venue at long-term risk because of short-term decisions to operate as a pub, bar or restaurant.
Risk Assessment
Creating a robust risk assessment is vital for any reopening activity (including activity not involving members of the public). MVT recommends using the following template: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/assets/docs/risk-assessment.pdf
Revive Live
With the reopening of the live sector and following the success of #SaveOurVenues and Reopen Every Venue Safely (REVS), MVT has launched the next phase of venue support, entitled Revive Live.
This national campaign aims to both support and educate venues through training and guidance materials as well as promote the live sector to returning audiences and artists, increasing confidence in the safe delivery of live music events throughout 2021.
We encourage all MVA members to join up to the Revive Live campaign, to access the assets and benefits that the campaign offers. To take part please contact your local MVA Coordinator or info@musicvenuetrust.com.
Access Guide
When reopening venues it is important to consider the challenges that Covid-secure measures may present to all users of the venue. Attitude is Everything have developed their own best practice guidance and provide practical tips to assist businesses in meeting their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Covid-19 Mitigations – Recommended Industry Practice
LIVE, the representative body for live music in the UK, has produced the following draft guidance for reopening to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
Entry criteria for the audience
- For venues with a capacity higher than 500, encourage every adult attending an event to provide
Covid certification as detailed in 2.a below. - Spot check at least 20% of adults who enter the event, with a higher percentage where crowd dynamic allows.
a. Covid certification that is accepted is either proof of:- Full vaccination
- A negative lateral flow test within the previous 48 hours (test to be registered on the Government website and evidence of this presented)
- Proof of natural immunity following a positive Covid-19 test with isolation period completed
- A medical exemption
- A solid communication plan to underpin these measures and ensure the public fully understand what is expected of them prior to an event & training for box office staff and security personnel on entry criteria.
- Queue management in place which considers other local businesses where appropriate, staggered entry and procedures for those who haven’t prepared appropriate certification in advance.
- Clearly documented procedures for customers unable to meet entry requirements.
Measures to reduce risk of transmission amongst audience at event
- Each venue should have robust cleaning protocols in place which factor in the reduction of Covid-19 transmission.
- Make the Government ‘Track and Trace’ QR code available at entrances to the venue and strongly encourage use of the system for the audience.
- Encourage the audience to wear face coverings in crowded or indoor spaces except where exempt.
- Encourage the audience to maintain social distancing where possible throughout the event.
- Provide multiple hand sanitiser and washing stations throughout the venue and encourage people to wash and sanitise their hands regularly.
- Communicate each venue’s appropriate measures in advance, at entry and throughout the venue.
Employee and working personnel
(including artists and non-professional performers)
- Detailed risk assessments to be produced for each venue or event to identify and reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
- Implementing a range of measures to reduce the risk of transmission in backstage areas such as encouraging all staff to take a lateral flow test at least 48 hours prior to an event and/or vaccinated workers operating in discrete bubbles.
- Ahead of arrival, all unvaccinated artists, non-professional performers and touring production staff should send proof of a negative lateral flow test within the last 48 hours.
- All staff are encouraged to wear face coverings whilst in the venue, except when stationary at their desks or behind appropriate screens, or if undertaking strenuous activity.
- Encourage all staff to maintain social distancing where possible throughout the venue.
- Provide multiple hand sanitiser stations and encourage people to wash their hands and sanitise their hands regularly.
- Where possible consider enhanced ventilation to reduce the risk of transmission throughout the venue.
England
MVT has been working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that the guidance regarding reopening is fair and doesn’t penalise GMVs. This has involved working with other sectors and DCMS on guidance regarding Pubs Bars & Restaurants, Live Music and Performing Arts as well as checking available guidance on Shops and Places of Worship. This work is ongoing.
Venues must consider the following guidance documents:
Scotland
MVT has represented the needs of GMVs with Scottish Government regarding reopening.
Venues must consider the following guidance documents:
Wales
MVT is working with Welsh Government to ensure that the needs of GMVs are considered. On 15 September 2020 Welsh Government published their Performing Arts Guidance.
Venues must consider the following guidance documents:
Northern Ireland
MVT is working closely with MLAs with the goal of presenting our findings and support needs formally to the Department of Communities.
Venues must consider the following guidance documents:
Streaming, Rehearsal & Recording Guidance (All Nations)
MVT’s understanding is that some activity under this heading may be allowed in parts of the UK where live performance is not yet permitted. If you are planning any activity you must consult your local authority.
To support you to consider the practicalities of such events, and consider whether your venue might be able to host such events, we have also created the following draft guidance which is based on the best information we have
This is a ongoing discussion document, we value your feedback and we would advise you follow this guidance for both broadcast and rehearsal plans.
Read and follow MVT‘s own REVS Streaming Guidance & Discussion
It will also help you to read:
Then do the following:
- carry out and document a risk assessment
- communicate this risk assessment to all stakeholders
- communicate that risk assessment to your licensing authority for confirmation that they agree you have met the guidelines. We strongly suggest that you request written approval from your licensing authority for permission to undertake this activity- aim for this as a minimum legal position
- contact your Landlord
- contact your Insurers
- ensure any Licenses required are gained with relevant copyright holders
- ensure rights to broadcast are established with performers
- ensure no audience
- consider measures to ensure that no audience is attracted to the recording such as ensuring volume is not enough to travel outside of venue
- consider whether this will encourage contravening of other lockdown regulations such as people from multiple households meeting inside and whether this will class as work/furloughing of staff
- constantly deliver all the steps within your risk assessment while open