Covid-19 Statement

Government Guidance - Business events and conferences

Business event guidance and updates for venues and industry professionals.  

Please find below key points from the COVID-19 Response- Spring 2021 document for Business events and conferences.

Step 1 – From 8 March 

In England, travel abroad for holidays will still not be permitted and, from 8 March, outbound travellers will be legally obliged to provide their reason for travel on the Declaration to Travel form.

Rules around funerals will not change; these can proceed with 30 attendees and wakes with 6 attendees, though not in private homes. Weddings will still be able to proceed with 6 attendees only but will no longer be limited to exceptional circumstances.

Step 2 – From 12 April

Additional premises such as; non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers, salons, and close contact services; and indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and spas (but not including saunas and steam rooms, which are due to open at Step 3) will be able to reopen but should only be visited alone or with household groups: 

Overnight stays away from home in this country will be permitted and self-contained accommodation, those that do not require shared use of bathing, entry/exit, catering or sleeping facilities, can also reopen, though must only be used by members of the same household. The Government will open public buildings such as libraries and community centres. 

Most outdoor settings and attractions can also reopen, including outdoor hospitality, zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas, and drive-in performances events. 

The rules on social contact outdoors will apply in these settings. Hospitality venues will be able to open for outdoor service, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. The requirement to order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) will remain. 

At this point, funerals can continue to proceed with up to 30 attendees. Weddings, receptions, and commemorative events including wakes will be able to take place with up to 15 attendees (in premises that are permitted to open).

Step 3 – From 17 May

In Step 3, all but the most high-risk sectors will be able to reopen. In all sectors, COVID-Secure guidance will remain in place and premises must not cater for groups larger than the legal limits. Sectors which will reopen include:

- Indoor hospitality, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew.

- The requirement to order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) will remain.

- Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas.

- Indoor entertainment, such as museums, cinemas, and children’s play areas.

- Remaining accommodation, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs.

- Some large events, including conferences, theatre and concert performances and sports events. Controlled indoor events of up to 1,000 people or 50% of a venue’s capacity, whichever is lower, will be permitted, as will outdoor events with a capacity of either 50% or 4,000 people, whichever is lower.

- The Government will also make a special provision for large, outdoor, seated venues where crowds can be safely distributed, allowing up to 10,000 people or 25% of total seated capacity, whichever is lower.

In addition, pilots will run as part of the Events Research Programme to examine how such events can take place without the need for social distancing using other mitigations such as testing.

At this step, weddings, receptions, funerals, and commemorative events including wakes can proceed with up to 30 attendees. A broader range of stand-alone life events will also be permitted at this step, including bar mitzvahs and christenings.

Step 4 – From 21 June

Remove all legal limits on social contact.

Reopen the remaining closed settings, including nightclubs and enable large events, including theatre performances, above the Step 3 capacity restrictions, subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme and potentially using testing to reduce the risk of infection, subject to further evaluation; and remove all limits on weddings and other life events, subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme.

Events Research Programme.

DCMS and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have been working with representatives from industry and civil society to explore when and how events with larger crowd sizes, less social distancing or in settings where transmission is more likely (i.e. indoors), will be able to return safely. This includes sports events, music festivals and large weddings and conferences.

Over the spring the Government will run a scientific Events Research Programme. This will include a series of pilots using enhanced testing approaches and other measures to run events with larger crowd sizes and reduced social distancing to evaluate the outcomes. The pilots will start in April.

The Government will bring the findings from across different sectors and different settings to determine a consistent approach to lifting restrictions on these events. Depending on the outcome of this work, the Government hopes to be able to lift restrictions on these events and sectors as part of Step 4.

To make your journey to Cheltenham as smooth as possible, we've put together a summary of resources and guidance for travelling safely to and within Cheltenham.

If you have any queries regarding a venue or hotel's Covid-19 measures, please check their websites or contact them directly before you travel.  

If you are travelling to Cheltenham by air, check the airport pages directly for their Covid-19 FAQs.

If you are travelling to Cheltenham by bus, check the Stagecoach Bus website for further information.

Business event guidance for venues & industry professionals

• The visitor economy guidance includes guidance for business events and consumer shows.
• See VisitBritain’s business advice hub for a summary of the latest updates.
• Visit the Meetings Industry Association (mia) website for advice and insight regarding meetings and events.
• Find out more about VisitBritain’s We’re Good To Go industry trademark.
• Prime Minister’s office latest updates.

Further resources:

Visit Cheltenham, Meet in Cheltenham, Marketing Cheltenham and our member businesses are continually revising policies in line with the latest Public Health England (PHE) and NHS advice, which includes increased cleanliness and hygiene procedures as well as travel advice.

England is beginning to re-open, providing ample opportunity to start considering your future event in Cheltenham. Learn about the measures the events industry in England is taking to safely welcome back your events and delegates soon and check for the latest government advice on events and travel to England.

If you’d like to discuss hosting a business event in Cheltenham or the surrounding areas please contact Tara Sanchez, Commercial Partnerships Manager on events@meetincheltenham.co.uk