Working lunches in pubs allowed in areas where mixing between households is banned

Business lunches are permitted in areas where mixing between households is banned, the Culture Secretary said on Wednesday night.

Meeting people inside pubs and restaurants is prohibited in regions under the toughest levels of government restrictions.

But on Monday night, Downing Street and local authorities suggested that such meetings were permitted so long as they are for “work purposes”.

The uncertainty over the rules prompted restaurateurs to restart bookings for business lunches despite the ban on household mixing.

On Wednesday night, Oliver Dowden defended the policy, suggesting it is not a loophole, but a conscious choice as part of the Government’s efforts to keep businesses afloat.

Appearing on ITV’s Peston on Wednesday night, the Culture Secretary said that allowing business lunches to continue amid the household mixing ban is “part of saying people can interact as part of their working places”.

“We have made a conscious choice through this crisis to prioritise people’s jobs and livelihoods, and that means allowing people to go to work as normal or as normal as we can in this crisis,” he added.

“Work includes business functions, and that is why the definition is being extended to cover that.”

Asked if people will exploit the rule by claiming meals with friends are business lunches, Mr Dowden replied: “My experience has been that, by and large, the British people have shown a good deal of common sense.

“They understand why we are doing this. We are doing this because we know that this virus spreads by social interaction.”