Is this actually allowed?

[BellCurve]

I'm planning our wedding next year and I've just had a venue invite us to look around today or tomorrow. AIBU to be surprised at this?

I assumed that this wasn't allowed during lockdown, but they've just said to wear masks.

I mean, it's probably less risky than it will be straight after lockdown because there'll be no-one using the restaurant, less guests etc, but still, I didn't think this would be allowed.

If schools can do on-line tours for prospective parents it shouldn't be beyond wedding venues to do the same. They are so fortunate to still be open at all.

Seems as though a fair few people on this thread seem to actively want perfectly profitable and viable businesses to go bust in the name of the rulez.

Whether or not there is any actual risk.

If schools can do on-line tours for prospective parents it shouldn't be beyond wedding venues to do the same. They are so fortunate to still be open at all.

We do other, more 'essential', stuff too; we're not purely a wedding venue.

I wanted to buy a present. My local party shop is open for click and collect. They sell helium balloons, cake decorations, fancy dress etc. Clearly none of this is essential. So no-one is allowed to visit, but they are allowed to be open. To sell to whom? The fairies?!

I needed to pick up a present from Smyths (toy store). So I travelled to the the Aldi next door at the same time and combined it with my weekly food shop (essential travel) and picked up my click and collect order :-)

No doubt some would scream that it's not essential, but they're open for business, I purposefully combined it with the food shop so i'm not having to make an extra journey so no extra risk there (unless i get run over crossing the car park!). Don't even go inside the shop, orders done at the front door.

I'm not someone who's risk averse when it comes to covid, I still travel by public transport to work and don't disinfect my shopping etc but I do stick to the guidelines because I can see the sense in them and I want this nightmare to end and for the NHS to get back to normal.

In this scenario, it's a definite 'no.' The company can provide video tours on their website.

@HesterShaw1

Seems as though a fair few people on this thread seem to actively want perfectly profitable and viable businesses to go bust in the name of the rulez.

Whether or not there is any actual risk.

Nobody wants that, but there are guidelines in place for a reason, and government compensation to businesses losing money. A lot of the guidelines are now embedded in law.

The sooner everyone buckles down to the restrictions, as well as getting the vaccine, the sooner we can all go and check out wedding venues 9if we so choose to.)

@yearinyearout

I'm pretty sure one of the accepted reasons you can leave home is to use or buy from a business that is open.

Yes I saw this also, if not there would be no point in them being allowed to open

@Heyahun

It’s fine! I’m trying to find a house to buy at the moment and have been to see heaps all through each lockdown!

I work at a nursery too and we offer viewings on weekends when we are closed

Has to be done - wedding venues are surely the same

Having somewhere to live is essential. Viewing a wedding venue for 2022 isn't.

Interesting thread because it highlights how many people are carrying out their own personal risk assessments to keep their livelihoods going. People will, ultimately, act in their own best interests for self-preservation, whether that means adhering to lockdown rules so they minimize catching Covid or open up their businesses to customers again so they don't fall into unemployment.

Sad times and hard times. For everyone.

If they are allowed to open you are allowed to use them.

And people wonder why numbers are rising and we're now in lockdown v.3.0.

I would consider seeing a health care professional in person to be essential, or sending children to school. But they're not possible at the moment in a good ?65-70% of cases (total guess there). But others are saying ''it's fine to view a wedding venue that's not going to be for at least another year.''

DISCLAIMER: OP I wasn't referring to you, I know you came on because you had doubts.

The government made up the rules, I just go by them

Wedding venues may be allowed to be open, but customers aren't allowed to visit in person. Personally, I'd think twice about spending a large amount of money on an event with a business that can't follow simple rules - I'd be concerned they'd get a detail wrong on the big day, like feeding someone with allergies the wrong special meal.

There are examples of businesses that opened in the last lockdown that shouldn't have, and that were fined. @BellCurve, you're right to question whether a business should be operating rather than simply taking their word for it.

Nobody wants that, but there are guidelines in place for a reason, and government compensation to businesses losing money.

Well yes, but .... where is the money for the government compensation coming from? Those of us who are working and paying taxes.

I do understand that emotions are running high but the reason that business remains open is to keep the country going. There is no magic compensation fund to pay for all this.

@BellCurve
Tbh I think odd shelve this venue. A venue is not “ essential” hence it should be shut. By opening they are flouting the rules. What other things would they flout? Food hygiene? Your wishes? Health and safety?

Would you really trust them to do stuff correctly.

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace

Yes, it's perfectly fine. My organisation has a wedding venue and we're showing couples around.

It s not essential. Name the company and report them.

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace

Nobody wants that, but there are guidelines in place for a reason, and government compensation to businesses losing money.

Well yes, but .... where is the money for the government compensation coming from? Those of us who are working and paying taxes.

I do understand that emotions are running high but the reason that business remains open is to keep the country going. There is no magic compensation fund to pay for all this.

All hospitality industries are potentially eligible for grants . That’s what they’re there for. It is no different then restaurants being forced to close and hotels. Would you be reasonable to interpret the law to say you want to look around a restaurant you are going to eat in , in 6 months time. No.

If they are prepared to 'bend' the lockdown rules what other rules might they break? Use substandard ingredients? Underpay staff? Skimp on cleaning?

You are the customer here OP. You are in charge not them. Tell them you aren't happy with leaving the house for a non essential reason but would be happy for them to give you a guided video tour.

You are allowed to leave your home to make pick up a purchase or obtain services if you have already made it. Its an explicit exemption.

(h)to collect food, drink or other goods which have been ordered from a business, or to access goods or services which are provided in any way permitted by paragraph 12 or 13; or

You are however discouraged from doing so.

And whilst you might be able to argue that the hire of a venue is 'making a purchase or obtain a service' merely viewing and not signing on the dotted line makes that a problem. You are NOT going to pick up a purchase.

The house sale exemption can not be applied as it explicitly states residential property
(f)to undertake any of the following activities in connection with the purchase, sale, letting or rental of a residential property—

The wedding exemption is explicitly restricted to attending a wedding:
(11) Exception 8 is that it is reasonably necessary for P to leave or be outside P’s home to attend a marriage ceremony, a civil partnership ceremony or an alternative wedding ceremony permitted under paragraph 6(11).

More to the point if you look at the restrictions, leisure venues and facilities are closed to the public.

The exemptions are:
(4) A place is a public outdoor place for the purposes of this paragraph if it is a public outdoor place other than a fairground or funfair and—
(a)no payment is required by any member of the public to access that place, or
(b)the place falls within one of the following categories—
botanical gardens,^
gardens or grounds of a castle, stately home, historic house or other heritage site.

Note - nothing indoors.

Under restricted businesses it states that you can carry on with other aspects of the business BUT:
(2) Paragraph 10(1) does not prevent a person responsible for carrying on a restricted business or providing a restricted service (“the closed business”) from—
(a)carrying on a business which is not a restricted business, or providing services which are not restricted services—
(i)in premises which are separate from the premises used for the closed business,

It can't be on the premises which are closed by these restrictions.

Weddings Ceremonys ONLY are allowed. Any ONLY in exceptional cirumstances. Otherwise they are restricted. That means wedding venues are not allowed to operate UNLESS there are exceptional circumstances.

All wedding venues that I can possibly think of therefore fall under restricted businesses and since you are explicitly not allowed to operate any other part of the business on the premises of restricted businesses, I would therefore conclude that going to visit a wedding venues is most definitely not excepted under any of the regulations and indeed it is actively prohibited.

I personally would be asking the business concerned here which regulation exception they are operating under and what exemption there is for you to enter premises which are closed by law.

I have gone through this with a fine tooth comb, and genuinely can not see any way you can argue a loophole tbh.

Its not legally allowed.

Besides as others have said, you should be trying to refrain from doing things unless necessary anyway. And this definitely falls under unnecessary.

The venue could provide virtual tours but they can not legally show you around from what I can see as this counts as a closed sector.

[quote Orchidflower1]@BellCurve
Tbh I think odd shelve this venue. A venue is not “ essential” hence it should be shut. By opening they are flouting the rules. What other things would they flout? Food hygiene? Your wishes? Health and safety?

Would you really trust them to do stuff correctly.[/quote]
^ This.

I wouldn't be using the venue.

It s not essential. Name the company and report them

Oh do sod off. You think I'm gonna report my own organisation and put everyone's job at risk?

Honestly, some people are fucking clueless

All hospitality industries are potentially eligible for grants

Yes. AND WHO IS PAYING THE SODDING GRANTS? WHERE IS THE BLOODY MONEY COMING FROM?

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace

It s not essential. Name the company and report them

Oh do sod off. You think I'm gonna report my own organisation and put everyone's job at risk?

Honestly, some people are fucking clueless

I hope someone does report you. You are justifying illegally staying open and potentially risking H&S because otherwise jobs would be lost.

Can you image that under other circumstances?

We should be encouraging and supporting businesses which ethical practices and don't flout the law because they are decidedly better employers and those are the business I want to keep open. I WANT the ones that behave in a matter that endangers people to be actively put out of business.

HTH.

I'd be concerned they'd get a detail wrong on the big day, like feeding someone with allergies the wrong special meal

Jesus wept. Good job we don't do the catering then, innit?

Plenty of wedding venues are allowed to be open & they may well be open for other reasons e.g. doing takeaway food etc.

I'm sure picking up a takeaway is questionable to those who think we must all stay home, but never the less the venue is operating within the law.

Business are struggling massively and doing whatever they can to stay afloat, for both their employees as well as the business owners. The government support has been pitiful in many cases and the grants and furlough barely touch the sides of what some of these businesses are losing. So maybe some poster could have a think about why these business are still operating, rather than suggesting that they should be boycotted.