Remember the 50% rule for outdoor dining and drinking

Local pubs, restaurants and cafes are being reminded by Trafford Council that hospitality taking place outdoors must be made sufficiently open air to meet government Covid-19 requirements.

Under the current rules, indoor drinking and dining is not permitted but outdoor hospitality may reopen. To qualify as being ‘outdoors’, at least 50% of the wall space of any structure, for example a shelter or marquee, must be open at all times when in use.

Full details of the requirements can be found on the government website.

A Trafford Council spokesperson said:

“We are pleased to see many hospitality businesses back open since we entered the latest phase of the roadmap out of lockdown, and this step towards normality is very welcome.

However, to contain the spread of coronavirus, air ventilation is absolutely key, and where a structure has been put in place to enable outdoor eating and drinking, it must abide by the 50% of walls open rule to ensure customers and staff are kept as safe as possible.

If any business has concerns about whether their arrangements meet the current requirements, our Environmental Health Team is here to advise. Please email environmental.health@trafford.gov.uk and a member of the team will be happy to help.”