Gloucester’s hotels and visitor attractions reopening
Gloucester’s hotels and indoor visitor attractions will begin to open their doors again today as some restrictions for the tourism sector are being lifted in line with step three of the Government’s lockdown easing plan.
Gloucester’s hotels, indoor areas of hospitality venues guesthouses and B&Bs will now be able to accommodate guests for leisure stays. And cafes, restaurants, pubs and social clubs will now be able to serve customers indoors as well as outdoors. For licensed premises serving alcohol, customers will be able to enjoy table service.
As the coronavirus vaccine rollout continues, indoor visitor attractions and entertainment venues can reopen, including museums, galleries, heritage sites, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bowling alleys, escape rooms and laser quest. Venues will also be permitted to operate for business events.
The newly refurbished Guildhall Cinema has reopened with a range of films including Oscar winners such as Nomadland and Rocks.
While the Museum of Gloucester will be open from 10 am on Tuesday 18 May. The Community Gallery features a co-curated exhibition by local artist Rider Shafique.
There is also an opportunity for visitors to share their ideas of what a Museum for Gloucester should be through a wall-art display designed by Tim Martin, aka SLAZ.
To enable social distancing the museum asks that visitors book a ticket online, with slots available every 15 minutes. The café also reopens with indoor seating.
Both outdoor and indoor events, organised by a business, charity, public body or similar organisation can be held, subject to them complying with COVID-Secure guidance meaning that visitors to Gloucester can also events such as McFly (23 July) and Comedy in the Park (24 July) can take place.
Spectators will also be allowed back at elite sporting events and live performances, again with capacity limits in place. Gloucester Rugby is looking forward to welcoming fans back to Kingsholm Stadium for the last two home games of the 2020-21 season.
Venues will be subject to capacity limits and can only be attended in line with the wider social contact rules - in a group of six people or two households indoors; or in a group of no more than 30 people outdoors (unless an exemption exists). People are reminded to continue observing the 2-metre social distancing rule where they can and to wear a mask when inside a business.
Customers are encouraged to visit the websites and social media accounts of businesses before visiting to check opening hours.
Look out for businesses displaying VisitBritain’s We’re Good To Go mark. Certified businesses have undertaken additional risk assessments and instituted changes designed keep staff and customers safe.
Philip Walker, Head of Culture at Gloucester City Council, said: “We are delighted that after such a long period of closures and restrictions for our businesses and attractions, that we will soon be welcoming people back to enjoy all that our city has to offer. We hope that locals and visitors alike are looking forward to returning once again and supporting these businesses that are so vital to Gloucester’s economy and culture. We look forward to seeing you soon.”
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