The UK government has announced that music venues and theatres will be permitted to reopen on 1 August.
In one of the first hopeful signs of recovery since the coronavirus pandemic crashed the UK’s live music industry in March, the UK government has announced that music venues can reopen from 1 August. In an announcement to the public, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that “indoor performances to a live audience” will be permitted, as long as social distancing guidelines are maintained at all times. This will likely mean that the capacity of indoor venues will be limited to ensure the safety of all concertgoers. However, music fans will be able to return to their favourite venues and enjoy live music once again.
“We will restart indoor performances to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson
The latest announcement follows news of a £1.57bn support package that will support the arts industry across the UK, providing music venues, theatres, independent cinemas, and other cultural institutions with an essential lifeline during this unprecedented time. The recent news on indoor concerts sees venues moving to the fourth stage of the government’s “road map”. There is no word as of yet on when the fifth and final stage, which will permit performances to have a “fuller audience”, will be reached. We at MN2S fully support this move towards reopening music venues as safely as possible and helping to revive the UK’s entertainment industry.