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.

Is this exclusively an event venue, or a hotel?

Hotels may be open, as per rules ( www.cntraveller.com/article/will-uk-hotels-open ) but it doesn't mean that everyone can stay or even visit. They really shouldn't be asking you to go there.

"Hotels and B&Bs may only legally remain open for specific reasons including to accommodate people who are self-isolating, those who live in the hotel or B&B or those who are moving house. Hotels can also remain open to house people who would otherwise become homeless during lockdown."

www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#travel

We are neither an event venue nor a hotel. We do other things which permit us to stay open. Trust me on this.

BTW I don't own the business. I just look after the money ...... it's my job to make sure there's enough to pay everyone

BTW, my question was obviously to the OP, not NiceLegs, although they are free to talk about their business here as they please.

BTW, my question was obviously to the OP, not NiceLegs, although they are free to talk about their business here as they please.

Sorry to jump in. I was just trying to clarify and explain why we don't fall under the definition of a hospitality business. I wasn't sure whether the question was addressed to me.

I've moved onto funny old songs

Gosh... come back from a few hours home schooling and there are so many posts! Thanks @MichaelMumsnet for the support and to @Judashascomeintosomemoney for making me laugh! That comment was because I understand that the rules differ depending on where you are.

@RedToothBrush your post is amazing! Thank you!

It is a hotel, for reference.

I'm grateful for the sensible discussion.

Wedding Venue viewings are not allowed. Absolutely not under any circumstances during National Lockdown. There are no ifs or buts or ways round it - we have been told, as responsible Wedding Venue managers/owners, that it's not allowed and it certainly doesn't fall under Real Estate viewings.

I'm not going to lie - as someone who runs a Wedding Venue - it's absolutely devastating. This is our main booking season and we can't show anyone round. It doesn't even make any sense because we can socially distance, there's plenty of space, very minimal numbers of people involved, and I have ranted & raved about it until I'm blue in the face.

But the fact remains that we are NOT allowed to do viewings.

I can see why people are trying to bend the rules - for an industry (weddings) that has been crushed by effectively not being open since last March (15 people weddings cannot be considered open - this was a clever way of ensuring that we couldn't say we had been shut). And after losing almost a year's worth of income, 2021 weddings are starting to postpone.

Wedding Venue viewings could have been a huge saving grace for the industry at a time of such difficulty. Especially when you think of all of the other suppliers that get booked after the venue like caterers / florists / photographers / BnBs. And it would have helped them at a time when they've suffered terribly for the last year, after a seriously harsh winter for the wedding industry.

But we keep fighting, because we need to. One day we will be allowed to do what we do best again and help people celebrate one of the most important days of their lives.

And until then they've got my interesting attempt at a virtual viewing!

And P.S.

Furlough doesn't work for wedding venues because couples expect to be able to contact you regardless of lockdown.

Grants have barely covered a few days worth of costs at best at a time.

But viewings are still not allowed.

@hopelessblue192
When do you think weddings will be able to go ahead again?
We've rebooked for mid March but I wanted to wait until April. DP was adamant about March but I'm in 2 minds to vetoe him and change to April.
We have a deadline of the end of May due to DP being here on a fiancé visa and he wants to be married before Ramadan as well which starts 12th April.
This is our 4th wedding date now 😩

I work at a wedding venue and we are not allowed viewings x

[quote fairgame84]@hopelessblue192
When do you think weddings will be able to go ahead again?
We've rebooked for mid March but I wanted to wait until April. DP was adamant about March but I'm in 2 minds to vetoe him and change to April.
We have a deadline of the end of May due to DP being here on a fiancé visa and he wants to be married before Ramadan as well which starts 12th April.
This is our 4th wedding date now 😩[/quote]
Hi @fairgame84 - hopefully I've done the tagging right!

Based on what we're hearing I'd say best bets for weddings are currently small numbers starting early March, more decent numbers Easter onwards, and much better numbers May / June (we aren't a huge 200/300 person venue thankfully!). So it really just depends on how many people you want with you I would say...

If people can leave home to pick up a click and collect purchase, I can't see why they shouldn't go to an empty wedding venue, masked up.

How far away is it, OP?
I'd give them a call and ask if Public Health England have given them permission to do viewings.

Also @fairgame84 - I just wanted to send massive hugs, I can only imagine how stressful changing dates that many times is for you and I bet you can't wait to finally get married!

I thought we were only meant to leave the house for essential reasons so looking at a party venue wouldn’t come under that whatsoever.

@HopelessBlue192

And P.S.

Furlough doesn't work for wedding venues because couples expect to be able to contact you regardless of lockdown.

Grants have barely covered a few days worth of costs at best at a time.

But viewings are still not allowed.

Bless you, as we're in another business that's been heavily impacted and not had government help, I totally understand the business pressures. I'm grateful that places are still responding to contact, but more so, I want to support their businesses in booking the wedding. It's over a year away for me and no urgency, but they need to survive.

I've had lots of places replying, some with out of office responses which are completely understandable, and just one place that won't reply at all which is incredibly frustrating because I don't know if they're not working at the moment, closed down completely, or just don't like the look of me etc... But it would be nice to know! lol

One of the “reasonable excuses” for leaving home is to “obtain goods or services” from a business that is permitted to be open. (I’m looking at the law, not the guidance). Lots of people on this thread saying they’re allowed to open but no one is allowed to go there, which is nonsense (but I can see why you’d think that if you’re only looking at the guidance).

@hopelessblue192

Thankyou.
We'll stick to March. I really don't care about a reception, we will get married with 2 witnesses if that's all were allowed. There is no joy in this wedding anymore, we just want it over with now.

Accessing that business and keeping it afloat in a demonstrably very low risk way is sensible balance, in my view. See how I did that without insulting you or sneering?

Sounded sneery to me "end of".

You might think you can arbitrarily assess risks and make decisions which fall outside the rules, but the law is clear that you cannot. I would refuse to do business with someone who is unwilling to stick to the guidance so instead of taking a short term hit, you'd be losing long term business.

If we get no customers, there'll be no business and we'll have to furlough the staff. Who, in the name of all that's holy, do you suppose is gonna pay for all this

That's what furlough is for. To protect businesses and stop them taking risks which add to the pandemic. We will all pay for it, in the long term and that's fine. The alternative is we ignore the fact people are dying in some of the highest numbers in the world, that the NHS is on the brink and see businesses collapse anyway because their staff and customers are unnecessarily exposed.

Anyone who asks "who is going to pay" to put a roof over the nation's head in the face of a global pandemic has seriously dubious priorities.

That's what furlough is for. To protect businesses and stop them taking risks which add to the pandemic. We will all pay for it, in the long term and that's fine. The alternative is we ignore the fact people are dying in some of the highest numbers in the world, that the NHS is on the brink and see businesses collapse anyway because their staff and customers are unnecessarily exposed.

Complete load of rubbish. If we all closed and furloughed our workers, the country would be on its knees in no time. It's not fine in any way, shape or form.

Anyone who asks "who is going to pay" to put a roof over the nation's head in the face of a global pandemic has seriously dubious priorities.

Anybody who doesn't has way more dubious priorities.

One of the “reasonable excuses” for leaving home is to “obtain goods or services” from a business that is permitted to be open. (I’m looking at the law, not the guidance)

Actually it says necessary goods and services. Looking at chair bows and dance floors is not necesary, ever, and certainly is the opposite of necessary in a pandemic lockdown.

Do you know how much furlough costs the employer? The employer still pays employer contributions & pension. Staff still accrue holiday while on furlough - yet another big cost.
The grants are a joke, most businesses I deal with are desperately underfunded - not enough to pay rent / mortgage let alone utilities and furlough costs. They've been forced to take loans in the first lockdown, which will need paying back.
Some of you are so righteous ~and plain nasty~ in your views. If you want to help people stay home then campaign the government to actually cover the costs so businesses can survive.
They will be paying benefits instead as things are going as there won't be jobs. Totally fed up with ill informed views bandied around as facts.
The company I work for (medium size) in hospitality is paying out £3k per month for furlough not including added costs of holiday pay.
So instead of criticising maybe do something constructive and push your MP to take the government to task. Hospitality will have been closed more than open over the April - April season. Even the big chains are struggling now.

So instead of criticising maybe do something constructive and push your MP to take the government to task

Why would I? I'm not going to ask for funding for wedding venues so they can stop helping to spread the bloody pandemic, when they won't stop on their own.
If you're showing people around in person during lockdown, you deserve to fold, tbh.

If you're showing people around in person during lockdown, you deserve to fold, tbh

You ever considered a career as a Diplomat? Your reasoned argument and well honed social skills would be ideal for it.