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Tuesday 24 November 2020

After seven months of severe restrictions on meetings, conferences and exhibitions, we are delighted with the news that large business events are now permitted outside of Tier 3 areas, where the 30 person limit will remain in place. We are here to help you through the guidance as you plan for 2021.

Addressing the House of Commons on 23rd November, the Prime Minister announced: “In Tiers one and two, spectator sports and business events will be able to resume indoors and outside, with capacity limits and social distancing, providing more consistency with performances in theatres and concert halls.”

He commented that, as part of his Winter Plan, large events, including business events, elite sport events and live performances can now run at the following capacities: At Tier 1 these will be 50% capacity or 4,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors, whichever is lower; at Tier 2 these will be 50% capacity or 2,000 outdoors and 1,000 indoors, whichever is lower. Events will not be permitted to run in Tier 3 areas.

The Prime Minister also clearly stated his expectation that life would get back to near normal by Easter, so the new relaxed regulations on event capacity, together with the long-awaited news on immunisation, should give London event planners real confidence in booking their summer parties, autumn conferences and Christmas 2021 celebrations.

Whilst we appreciate that it is unlikely that many companies will be rushing to organise events for 1,000 delegates in the New Year, it does enable organisers to increase the size of events above the current 30 person limit. And, more importantly, it creates a clear pathway for a gradual and confident return to delivering larger events as the vaccines begin to work their magic in early 2021.

Venues hosting business meetings will need to follow the Meeting Industry Association’s Government-approved guidance covering services and procedures, throughout the customer and staff journey, which will be implemented upon reopening to meet Government guidelines on Social Distancing (at 1m+), cleaning and personal hygiene, Contact Tracing and attendee and staff communication.

Here at Venue Search London, our Safe Event Assurance Scheme gives us a great understanding of the best London conference and event venues that are able to operate within the guidelines. In addition, our events team have completed their Safe Event Accreditation qualifications, so we are ready and able to help you deliver larger events safely over the winter months.

Please call us on 0207 870 9305 or complete our short enquiry form on the right of this page to discuss your 2021 event programme with our free venue finding experts.