The 19th of July marked the nation’s return to freedom after over a year of tough restrictions.
Social distancing has inevitably become a feature of our daily lives since the start of the pandemic back in 2020. While the rules still vary across the UK, the 19th of July marked the beginning of our road back to normality and freedom as we once knew it – something we have all been desperately anticipating. Let’s take a look at what this means for the future of the events industry.
For those in England…
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that England will indeed progress into the final stage of easing Covid restrictions as they continue with their roadmap out of lockdown. Masses gathered yesterday to celebrate what has become known as England’s ‘Freedom Day’ – which sees all legal limits on social distancing being scrapped, face coverings no longer being required by law, the reopening of nightclubs and no limits on people attending concerts, weddings, theatres or sporting events. On top of this, government guidance on travel to amber list countries has also been removed, and under-18’s and fully vaccinated adults no longer have to self-isolate after visiting amber list countries.
For those in Scotland…
For Scotland, the rules are slightly different as we continue on our own lockdown roadmap – but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been celebrating this small victory and taste of freedom too. The whole of Scotland has now moved to Covid protection level 0. This means that up to 8 people from 4 households can now meet indoors at home, up to 10 people from 4 households can meet in a public indoor space, and up to 15 people from up to 15 households can meet outdoors. On top of this, weddings can now be attended by up to 200 guests and the two-hour time slot rule at restaurants and bars has been scrapped, alongside extending opening hours to midnight – hurray!
What do the new restrictions mean for the events industry?
Well, the capacity of attendees allowed to attend events in Scotland has risen to 2,000 seated outdoors, 1,000 standing and 400 indoors – a pretty significant jump from this time last year. In England, we have seen the reopening of nightclubs and the scrapping of limits on guests at weddings and attendees at concerts, theatres or sporting events. This is undoubtedly fantastic news for the events sector! Northern Ireland has followed suit, allowing theatres and other indoor seated venues to reopen, alongside live music indoors with no restrictions on sound levels. In Wales, organised indoor events can take place for up to 1,000 seated and up to 200 guests standing, and there are now no limits on how many people can meet outdoors in public spaces and at events.
After being particularly hard hit by the pandemic, this news comes as a significant relief for the events sector. Here at Panoptic, we cannot wait to see what exciting events and experiences will be taking place over the coming weeks as a result of this announcement and we can’t wait to get back to doing more of what we love. Safely of course.
While it has been great to see how quickly the industry adapted to change and embraced the world of virtual events – there really is nothing quite like the feeling of attending a live, in-person experience. From buying your ticket, counting down to the big day, immersing yourself in the atmosphere, meeting new people and making memories with friends – nothing tops the feeling and these are just some of the many things we have missed about events over the last year and a half.
The future is hybrid!
So, if you have been considering hosting an in-person or hybrid event – now is the perfect time! Bridging the gap between in-person and digital experiences – hybrid events combine both in-person and virtual elements, allowing the physical as well as the online audience to come together and participate in the same experience at the exact same time, from any location – meaning there are no geographical limits on who can attend your event!
Sounds interesting? Panoptic Events can assist you with creating the ultimate hybrid experience. From live streaming, videoconferencing, HD recordings for on-demand viewing, online meetings, virtual conferences to live event broadcasts. We can even assist with your food and drink, activities and event programmes. Panoptic can bring you an interactive experience with real-time engagement – to unite online audiences with in-person audiences via live Q&A sessions, chat forums and virtual networking.
The past year and a half has taught us many valuable lessons. For the events industry, one of them is that the hybrid event is here to stay. Check out our event experiences brochure which details our hybrid event services here!
The future is looking bright for the events sector and the recent government announcement on the lifting of restrictions across the UK only solidifies this. Let’s raise a glass to that – cheers!
At Panoptic Events, we deliver world-class experiences cross-sector that amaze and inspire. We have the expertise and solutions to design effective and engaging live, digital and hybrid events. Simply tell us your story, and we will create your legacy. If you would like to find out more about our services, please get in touch at craig@panopticevents.com.
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