page_title: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020
section_title: Business closures
hierarchical_section_title: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 / Initial enactment, in force 26 March 2020 (SI 350) / Business closures
caption_attribution_description: COVID-19 closure notice on a Wetherspoon pub in Plymouth.
context_page_description: The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, informally known as "the Lockdown Regulations", was a statutory instrument enacted at 1pm on 26 March 2020 by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It became the principal delegated English legislation restricting freedom of movement, gatherings, and business closures during the COVID-19 emergency period until its repeal by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 on 4 July 2020.
  SI 350 gave legal force to some of the 'lockdown' rules that had been announced by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a televised address on 23 March 2020.
  The SI related to England only; there were similar regulations for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
context_section_description: The business closures originally set out in SI 327 are re-enacted. With a few exceptions, all premises selling food or drink for consumption on the premises must remain closed including cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs; any adjacent seating area is to be treated as part of the premises. Hotels are, however, allowed to continue to provide food to guests via room service. The provision of food for consumption off the premises is now explicitly stated to be allowed.
  The regulation sets out a new and more detailed list of non food-related businesses that must cease entirely, including most sports venues, sports courts and gyms; indoor leisure facilities; nightclubs; personal care services such as beauty parlours, nail bars and hairdressers; cultural venues such as cinemas, theatres and museums; car showrooms; and all outdoor markets except stalls selling food.
  In addition, libraries and all types of non-food shops are required to close unless they are on an approved list or are able to fulfil orders by delivery or without allowing personal access to their premises. The approved list of business premises allowed to remain open includes food retailers, supermarkets; hardware, homeware and convenience stores; off licences; banks, building societies and post offices; laundrettes and dry cleaners; medical centres, pharmacies; vets, pet shops; petrol stations; car repairs; bicycle shops; taxi and vehicle hire; funeral directors; storage facilities; building and agricultural suppliers; car parks, public toilets.
  Subject to a few exceptions, all accommodation businesses such as hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages and campsites have to cease operation.
  Places of worship also have to be closed, except for funerals or to provide essential voluntary services such as food banks. Similarly, burial grounds and crematoria are off-limits to the public, except when actually in use for a burial or funeral.
caption: Pubs were included in the list of businesses which must close.
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