Mayor of London’s Business Update

London Business Hub: Please see message from the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

Londoners have done exactly what has been asked of them since the start of this pandemic, and their monumental sacrifice managed to keep the number of cases lower in our city than most other parts of the country since the summer.

Yesterday’s news that London will enter Tier 2 on 2 December will be a welcome boost for London’s shops, businesses and hospitality venues, who were forced to close just as preparations for the Christmas period began. Businesses across London have worked incredibly hard to make their premises Covid-safe, and I am really pleased that they are able to open their doors again.

Key Tier 2 rules include:

• You must not socialise with anyone you do not live with in any indoor setting unless they are in your support bubble. This applies both at home and in any indoor public place, including places of worship, pubs and restaurants.
• You must not socialise in a group of more than six people outside.
• All non-essential retail can open. (You must wear a face covering in shops unless you have an exemption.)
• Gyms, leisure centres, sports facilities can open. Organised indoor sport and exercise classes can resume, but you must not socially mix with others you do not live who (or are not in your support bubble).
• Hairdressers, barbers, and beauty services can open.
• Restaurants and cafes can open. Pubs and bars can also open, but only if they are operating as restaurants with table service. All hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals.
• All hospitality venues must stop taking orders at 10pm and close by 11pm. (Deliveries and takeaways can continue until later.)
• Cinemas, museums, theatres and other entertainment venues can open, but must close at 11pm.

You can find further guidance on London.gov

I recognise that this continues to be an incredibly challenging time for many others, especially those already struggling in our hospitality, culture and entertainment sectors. I continue to call on the Government to take action to avoid irreversible damage to the country’s economy, including:

• Providing a substantially more generous package of financial aid to local authorities to distribute as grants to businesses;
• Scrapping the 11pm curfew, which is doing more harm than good;
• Extending the moratoria on debt enforcement and lease forfeiture into 2021 to remove the cliff edge; and
• Incentivising rent negotiations, with an aid package for landlords and tenants whose viability is at risk.

While we now know what restrictions will be from next Wednesday, there is still almost a week of lockdown still to go. Your support continues to be an important part in making sure Londoners continue following the rules to reduce the spread of the virus.

With the positive news of a vaccine now in sight, it’s crucial we continue to follow the rules and do everything we can to protect the NHS and save lives.

Please visit the London Business Hub and London.gov for regularly updated information on current restrictions, the incoming Tier 2 rules and available business support.

I again thank you for your leadership and resilience in helping London’s economy to reopen safely.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan