Is this allowed under “group of 6”?

[Peasbewithyou]

Can I have 4 friends over one evening (socially distanced - we have open plan downstairs so space isn’t an issue), while DH & 3 kids are upstairs? The kids would be sleeping and DH either watching TV or working. So in the house would be a total of 9 people but on totally different floors and there are toilets on both floors so is it several “groups” so no reason for anyone to come into contact with anyone else.

It seems a bit ridiculous when if we went to a pub there could be another who knows how many people there sitting in groups just a metre or so away!

So would this be legal or illegal?

Ugh sorry, just re read and see my editing failed! Apologies! Hopefully you can get the gist!

Probably illegal. But I'd still do it if I wanted to and all concerned knew the situation.

Illegal I believe.

I think that would be legal.

No, it isn't allowed, so perhaps going down the pub would be the better option?

Whether legal or illegal, it's still not a good idea.

illegal.

I think you would have to convert your house into two flats for it to be legal.

Yes, I agree with you; it's ridiculous. The rule of six is, ironically, supposed to be so straightforward that nobody will be deciding how they can interpret it to make it work for them. But the rule is illogical when you can play five a side football with nine other people, go to the pub and sit at two tables with them but not sit in a group outside or inside on different floors.

Of course, if you're testing your eyesight, you are allowed to act on your instincts.

As 9 is greater than 6 it's not allowed

Ha @ totally contradictory answers from pp! I think technically it would break the rule of 6 however it does seem utterly nonsensical because the social gathering would be less than 6 and if you had sent the kids to friends for the night then it would be fine (and both scenarios are exactly the same in terms of contact between people)! So like another ohthegoats I would do this.

Why are people saying this is illegal? Genuine question. OP is suggesting a group of 5 and a group of 4. That's allowed. The 6 person limit applies to a gathering, not the number of people in a building.

It would seem to more than the allowed six.

I would suggest hiring a minibus and taking a trip to Bernard Castle to check your eyesight, you'll be fine then.

I'm doing fairly similar tmrw but with the twist, which may make it legal, that the person I'm visiting has a proper home office (locked door, separate entrance etc).

He and DH will probably end up talking about football in there while the other 6 of us play in the garden.

If we get door knocked by the police I shall tell them that's its OK, DH and I have covid symptoms and are just dropping the kids off for childcare in case we get really ill and can't cope. That is near enough word for word what the prime ministers closest advisor did, and everyone clearly stated it was legal, so it's my defence too.

For the record I don't have any symptoms and neither does DH. If we did then we wouldn't leave the house and infect family, obviously.

Interested in whether the 'proper' office premises makes it any different legally, but really I'm using my judgement and being perfectly sensible so I shall crack on

The rule of six says you cannot "meet in a group of more than six". Provided the H and children do not meet the visitors at any point and stay up and out of the way I cannot see a problem technically. The rules are not drafted "you cannot have more than six in your dwelling" but as above.

If you have any curtain twitchers nearby they could interpret differently when your visitors arrive.

As others say the fact you can go to a pub and sit close by to several other groups makes no sense at all!

Thanks all. I thought it was probably illegal but feel that it’s ridiculous.

I do understand that 9 is greater than 6, but 5 of the people won’t touch, see or even get within 20ft of the other 4 for the duration so it feels a bit crazy that this isn’t allowed whereas we could go to the pub and be exposed to who knows how many others in the room at other tables, waiting staff, in the loos etc etc etc. Of course the crucial factor is that we would be spending some money I suppose...

This thread alone is showing just how crystal clear the “rule of 6” really is!

Hampstead why do you think it's nicllot a good idea? If the DH and kids were upstairs it would be well within the law - what realm practical difference do three people separated by multiple layers of concrete, plater board, wood, who to any real intent isn't present, make?

Not trying to be goady, I'm not a 'to the letter of the law' follower in general but I understand others are and 'it's illegal' is enough reason for them. However I'm interested in your reasoning behind it not being a good idea regardless of the law. Would you say that about any legal gathering of OP and 4 friends?

If you're in Scotland and the kids are under 12 it's fine. England, Wales, NI all different I believe.

It’s illegal to meet in groups of 6. If your DH and DC don’t meet your guests, surely it’s fine.
To be honest I wouldn’t care either way and would do it anyway.

As long as they don’t mingle

6 people on or in your property, including garden. Including any children asleep

Gah typos!

Why do you think it's not a good idea?

If DH and kids weren't inside it would be well within the law

And what real practical difference

Definitely no mingling would happen. I don’t want kids or DH crashing my night with the girls!

We live in a very quiet place with no houses directly overlooking ours, only 2 close neighbours and neither are curtain twitchers so I think we would be safe from that POV.

@Bluewavescrashing it sounds like you have got the detail from somewhere, can you send a link? Have they spelled that out somewhere?

@HoneyBee03 The law refers to gatherings in a private dwelling. There can only be one gathering in the private dwelling (that includes the garden!).

@Peasbewithyou It is illegal, but completely illogical.