Coronavirus – Regulations affecting Hospitality from 18 September 2020
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This prosecution guidance provides an overview of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) regulations that were enacted to control the spread of COVID-19 in hospitality settings. It outlines the main provisions, including amendments and the responsibilities of businesses regarding bookings and social distancing. Additionally, it details the potential penalties for non-compliance and emphasizes the importance of referring to the full text of the regulations for precise guidance on individual cases.
Key points
- Prosecutors must refer to the original regulations for complete provisions.
- Non-compliance may result in summary offences punishable by unlimited fines.
- Specific amendments apply to group sizes and venue restrictions under various tiers.
Public-interest factors
- High public health risk due to potential COVID-19 spread.
- Prosecutions reflective of the seriousness of breaches.
- Community safety and health protection priorities.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.