The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021

Exceptions in relation to indoor gatherings

4.—(1) These are the exceptions relating only to indoor gatherings.

Exception 1: two households or linked households

(2) Exception 1 is that all the people in the gathering are members of no more than two households.

(3) For these purposes two households which are linked households in relation to each other are to be treated as a single household.

(4) For the purposes of these Regulations, a person who has been released on temporary licence is to be treated as a member of the household living at the address identified on the licence.

Exception 2: support groups

(5) Exception 2 is that—

(a) the gathering—

(i) is of a support group,

(ii) consists of no more than 15 persons, and

(iii) takes place at premises other than a private dwelling, and

(b) it is reasonably necessary for members of the group to be physically present at the gathering.

(6) In determining whether the limit in sub-paragraph (5)(a)(ii) is complied with, no account is to be taken of any child who is below the age of five.

Exception 3: marriages and civil partnerships etc

(7) Exception 3 is that the gathering meets the conditions in sub-paragraph (8) or (9).

(8) A gathering meets the conditions in this sub-paragraph if it consists of no more than 30 persons and—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of—

(i) the solemnisation of a marriage, formation of a civil partnership or conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage, in accordance with the Marriage Act 1949(1), the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970(2), the Civil Partnership Act 2004(3), or the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013(4), or

(ii) an alternative wedding ceremony,

(b) in the case of an alternative wedding ceremony, the gathering takes place—

(i) at premises, other than a private dwelling, which are operated by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, or

(ii) at premises, other than a private dwelling, which are part of premises used for the operation of a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, and

(c) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

(9) A gathering meets the conditions in this sub-paragraph if it consists of no more than 30 persons and—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of—

(i) the solemnisation of a marriage in accordance with the Marriage (Registrar General’s Licence) Act 1970,

(ii) the solemnisation of a marriage by special licence under the Marriage Act 1949, where at least one of the parties to the marriage is seriously ill and not expected to recover,

(iii) the formation of a civil partnership under the special procedure provided for in Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004,

(iv) the conversion of a civil partnership to a marriage under the special procedure provided for in regulation 9 of the Marriage of Same Sex Couples (Conversion of Civil Partnership) Regulations 2014(5), or

(v) an alternative wedding ceremony, where at least one of the parties to the marriage is seriously ill and not expected to recover,

(b) the gathering takes place—

(i) at a private dwelling,

(ii) at premises which are operated by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, or

(iii) at premises which are part of premises used for the operation of a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body,

(c) it is not reasonably practicable for the gathering to take place in accordance with sub- paragraph (8), and

(d) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

(10) In sub-paragraph (8) and (9), a gathering is for the purposes of an “alternative wedding ceremony” if it is for the purposes of a ceremony, including a ceremony based on a person’s faith or belief or lack of belief, to mark the union of two people, other than a ceremony conducted for a purpose mentioned in sub-paragraph (8)(a)(i), or (9)(a)(i) to (iv).

Exception 4: wedding and civil partnership receptions

(11) Exception 4 is that the gathering is for the purposes of a wedding reception, a reception following the formation of a civil partnership or a reception following the conversion of a civil partnership into a marriage and—

(a) it consists of no more than 30 persons,

(b) it takes place in premises other than a private dwelling, and

(c) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

Exception 5: funerals

(12) Exception 5 is that—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of a funeral,

(b) the gathering consists of no more than 30 persons,

(c) the gathering takes place—

(i) at premises, other than a private dwelling, which are operated by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, or

(ii) at premises, other than a private dwelling, which are part of premises used for the operation of a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, and

(d) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

Exception 6: commemorative event following a person’s death

(13) Exception 6 is that—

(a) the gathering is for the purposes of a commemorative event to celebrate the life of a person who has died (for example, a wake or stone setting ceremony),

(b) the gathering consists of no more than 30 persons,

(c) the gathering takes place at premises other than a private dwelling, and

(d) the gathering organiser or manager takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

Exception 7: significant event celebration

(14) Exception 7 is that the gathering is for the purposes of a ceremony, rite or ritual to mark or celebrate a significant milestone in a person’s life, according to their religion or belief, such as an event to celebrate a rite of passage or entry into a particular faith (other than a birthday) or coming of age, and—

(a) it consists of no more than 30 persons,

(b) it takes place—

(i) at premises, other than a private dwelling, which are operated by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, or

(ii) at premises, other than a private dwelling, which are part of premises used for the operation of a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body, and

(c) the manager or the gathering organiser, takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

(15) In sub-paragraph (14), a reference to belief includes a reference to lack of belief.

Exception 8: parent and child groups

(16) Exception 8 is that the gathering—

(a) is of a parent and child group which is organised by a business, a charitable, benevolent or philanthropic institution or a public body for the benefit of children under the age of five, and—

(b) consists of no more than 15 persons.

(17) In determining whether the limit in sub-paragraph (16)(b) is complied with, no account is to be taken of any child who is below the age of five.

(1)

1949 c. 76.

(2)

1970 c. 34.

(3)

2004 c. 33.

(4)

2013 c. 30.

(5)

S.I. 2014/3181.