The Welsh government has ruled that live events will be allowed to return, with COVID-19 safety restrictions in place for the time being, according to the BBC.
Social distancing, one-way paths, and a limit on the number of persons per group are the prerequisites for attending live events in Wales, effective immediately. Group limits are currently set at a maximum of six persons from six households.
The ruling has been received fairly positively by the Welsh music community so far, though it’s currently unclear how many venues will be able to adhere to the restrictions while remaining profitable. While larger venues will certainly have the means to accommodate audiences under the new regulations, “for many small venues it will simply be impossible for them to manage this with social distancing in place,” said Kate Nichols, chief executive of UKHospitality.
“Until we get that final bit of the jigsaw—the social distancing lifted—to be able to allow these businesses to return to profitability, then we’re not at the end of the road yet for the sector,” she went on.
While festival organizers and large concert venues in Wales will benefit from the ability to reopen, nightclubs will remain closed until further notice. Furthermore, the lack of insurance licenses for U.K. events due to a ruling by the government still puts events and event spaces at risk of cancellations.
With the government’s ruling, Wales joins England and Scotland in the return to live music events, though Northern Ireland remains under lockdown.
