Latest Information

Last updated 10.56, 17 April 2021

17 May: What’s changed

From Monday 17 May indoor hospitality can reopen and indoor entertainment can resume, including cinemas, museums, and children’s play areas.

Up to 6 people or 2 households will be able to meet indoors and up to 30 people outdoors.

All remaining outdoor entertainment can reopen, such as outdoor cinemas and performances. Some larger events will be able to take place, including conferences, theatre and concert performances, and sports events. Restrictions on the number of attendees will remain as set out in the Roadmap.

Guidance on meeting family and friends will be updated. The public can make informed, personal decisions on close contact, such as hugging, with their friends and family. Close contact continues to carry a risk of catching or spreading COVID-19, and people must consider the risk to themselves and to others. COVID-secure rules remain for the workplace and businesses, such as in shops and hospitality.

Up to 30 people will now be able to attend weddings, receptions, and commemorative events including wakes, as well as standalone life-cycle events. These can take place outdoors or at any indoor Covid secure venue that is permitted to open. The number of people able to attend a funeral will be determined by the number that can be safely accommodated in the venue with social distancing in place.

Organised adult sport and exercise classes can resume indoors and saunas and steam rooms may reopen.

You should get a test and follow the stay at home guidance if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

You can read the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ (the roadmap) for more information on how COVID-19 restrictions will be eased in England. It is underpinned by law.

12 April: What’s changed

Some of the rules on what you can and cannot changed on 12 April. However, many restrictions remain in place. You must not socialise indoors with anyone you do not live with, unless you have formed a support bubble with them, or another exemption applies. You should continue to work from home if you can and minimise the number of journeys you make where possible.

From 12 April:

• non-essential retail can reopen
• personal care services such as hairdressers and nail salons can reopen, including those provided from a mobile setting
• public buildings such as libraries and community centres can reopen
• outdoor hospitality venues can reopen, with table service only
• most outdoor attractions including zoos, theme parks, and drive-in performances (such as cinemas and concerts) can reopen
• some smaller outdoor events such as fetes, literary fairs, and fairgrounds can take place
• indoor leisure and sports facilities can reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble
• all childcare and supervised activities are allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number)
• weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events can take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens
• self-contained accommodation can stay open for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble
• care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test)
• you should continue to work from home if you can and minimise the amount that you travel where possible

Attractions | Shopping | Food & Drink | Accommodation |  Travel

Attractions

Most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas can reopen on April 12. 

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Hotels and Accommodation

Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can reopen on April 12.

Please check their websites for up to date details on opening and for information on changes due to COVID-19. 

Indoor locations to open up in Step 3 include indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas; the rest of the accommodation sector, including hotels, hostels and B&Bs

Do keep a look out for VisitEngland's 'We're Good To Go' and the AA's 'Covid Confident' marks.

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Shopping

From 12 April, non-essential retail; personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and public buildings, including libraries and community centres will opening. Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups); as will most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas. Self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.

Wearing a mask - You must by law wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets. People who do not wear a face covering will face a fine of up to £100 and a shop can refuse them entry and can call the police if people refuse to comply.

For the latest information on openings and changes, please visit the individual business' or shopping centre's website.

Eastgate Shopping Centre

Gloucester Quays

King's Walk

Gloucester Farmer's Market at The Cross runs 9am - 3pm every Friday.

Public Toilets

The following toilets are open:

• Eastgate Shopping Centre | Mon-Sat 9am-5.30pm | Sun 10.30am-4.30pm
• Gloucester Quays | Mon-Sat 10am-6pm | Sun 10am-5pm
• Gloucester Transport Hub | 7.30am-7.30pm
• Westgate Car Park* | 7am-7pm
• Gloucester Park | 8.30am-3.45pm

* Radar key may be needed for disabled access - available in store. Businesses have the right to refuse entry in exceptional circumstances

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Food and Drink

Hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors from April 12 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’). Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.

Please make sure to check the business’s website and social media channels for latest opening hours and procedures before visiting.

Do keep a look out for VisitEngland's 'We're Good To Go' and the AA's 'Covid Confident' marks.

Parks and Open Spaces

From 29 March, when most schools start to break up for the Easter holidays, outdoor gatherings (including in private gardens) of either 6 people (the Rule of 6) or 2 households will also be allowed, making it easier for friends and families to meet outside.

• by yourself
• with the people you live with
• with your support bubble (if you are legally permitted to form one)
• in a childcare bubble where providing childcare
• or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household

Public outdoor places include:

• parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, forests
• public gardens (whether or not you pay to enter them)
• the grounds of a heritage site
• playgrounds

The majority of Gloucester’s parks including Alney Island Nature Reserve and Robinswood Hill Country Park are open to the public. 

See the list of all parks and open spaces.

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Travelling to Gloucester Safely 

If you need to travel you should stay local – meaning avoiding travelling outside of your village, town or the part of a city where you live – and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall.

Visit the government's website for safe travel guidance whether, you’re traveling by car, bike or public transport.

Wearing a mask - You must by law wear a face covering in stations. People who do not wear a face covering will face a fine of up to £100 and can be refused entry.

Parking - See the list of Gloucester City Council car parks.

Public Transport

Buses are running if you need them, however, government advice continues to be to only travel if your journey is necessary. 

You must wear a face covering on public transport in England. You will be breaking the law if you fail to do so and could be fined.

Stagecoach buses will have reduced capacity so that social distancing can be observed for your safety. Visit their COVID-19 webpage for advice on how to stay safe at the bus stop and on the bus.  

GWR Visit their COVID-19 webpage for advice on how to stay safe on trains and in stations.

Taxis

Customers in private hire vehicles and taxis must wear face coverings.

Key Information 

• Find the latest information on the official UK government website.   
• Check your plans before you travel and be aware that opening hours may vary or be flexible at this time.
• Please check directly with venues, businesses and attractions for up to date information.
• Find out what you need to do if you’re travelling to the UK from other countries.
• For travellers already in the UK and who need medical advice, use the 111 online coronavirus service to get further information.  

Below are the main points from the Prime Minister’s Statement to parliament on the Roadmap:

• There will be no Tier system - England will be treated as a single area.

• There will be four steps

• There will be at least 5 weeks between each step

Step one – from 8 March

• All schools to open

• Stay at home order remains in place

• People can meet one other person outside for recreation

From 29 March

• People will be able to meet outside including in private gardens, subject to the rule of six, or provided no more than two households are meeting.

• People will no longer be legally required to stay at home but should work from home if they can and try not to travel.

• Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis or basketball courts and open air swimming pools can reopen and formally organised sports can restart.

Step Two -  no earlier than 12th April

• Self-catering will open for individuals or household groups only.

• Non-essential retail will open.

• Pubs and restaurants will begin to open for outdoors service, without curfew, and no requirement for people to order a substantial meal.

• Zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas will open

Step Three - no earlier than 17 May

• Pubs and restaurants will open for indoor service

•  Hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs will open

• Pubs and restaurants will open for indoor service

• Cinemas and theatres will open

• Most restrictions outdoors will be lifted, subject to a limit of 30 people

• International travel will not resume before 17 May

Step Four - no earlier than 21 June

• All limits on social contacts will be lifted

• Large events and performances and weddings will be able to go ahead

• Nightclubs will open

In Addition, there will be Four Reviews

• Looking at whether having a vaccine or a negative test result can reduce restrictions on social contact.

• Piloting the impact of testing and reduced social distancing on events.

• Looking at how to facilitate more inbound and outbound travel - to report back by 12 April

• Review social distancing measures, such as the one-metre-plus rule, rules on face coverings and working from home – to report back by 21 June.