skip to main content

Prime Minister Sets Out the ‘Roadmap’ for Lifting Covid-19 Restrictions in England

The PM has today set out his ‘roadmap’ for lifting Covid-19 restrictions in England. We'll be updating advice for musicians over the next week.

Published: 22 February 2021 | 6:52 PM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:32 PM
Empty UK Parliament square
Financial measures to go alongside the roadmap will be announced in the Budget on 3 March. Photo by Jonathan Stewart.

We'll be updating all of our website advice over the next week or so and speaking to different government departments to clarify anything that remains unclear. For example, one early question will be about busking and at which stage it will be allowed. 

MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge will also be using his presence on a number of the Covid-19 working groups to push for clarity for all areas of musicians’ work. 

Any financial measures to go alongside the roadmap will be announced in the Budget on 3 March. As ever we will provide updates as soon as we can through the Coronavirus update emails.

A brief summary of the roadmap

On 8 March

  • All students return to schools and colleges, and school clubs can resume
  • Secondary school students will be required to wear masks in class as well as communal areas
  • People can meet one other person outside for recreation, not just exercise
  • Care home residents will be allowed one regular named visitor
  • Stay at home order remains in place.

As of 29 March

  • Outdoor gatherings of up to six people or two households will be allowed, including meeting in private gardens
  • Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts and outdoor swimming pools allowed to reopen and organised outdoor sports can resume
  • Stay at home order ends but people will be encouraged to stay local wherever they can
  • Work from home wherever possible
  • No overseas travel

Not before 12 April

  • Non-essential retail, hairdressers, nail salons, libraries and museums open
  • Outdoor hospitality in pubs and restaurants allowed with households or rule-of-six
  • Most outdoor settings reopen such as zoos and theme parks
  • Gyms and indoor swimming pools open
  • Self catering holiday accommodation and camp sites reopen
  • Funerals continue with up to 30 people
  • Weddings with up to 15 people

Not before 17 May

  • Outdoors most social contact rules lifted, up to limit of 30 people
  • Mixing indoors allowed for two households, but rule-of-six for indoor hospitality and elsewhere
  • Cinemas, soft play centres, rest of accommodation sector, hotels, indoor exercise classes return
  • Performances and sporting events resume – larger performances with venues 1,000+ or half full will be allowed indoors and outdoors 4,000 capacity or half full (whichever lowest)
  • In very largest outdoor seated venues such as football stadiums up to 10,000 people allowed to attend (or 1/4 full whichever is lowest)
  • Up to 30 people can attend weddings, receptions, funerals, wakes.

 

Get MU membership today

From gig players to part-time teachers and professional instrumentalists, MU members can access specialist insurance for musicians. This includes Public Liability, Instrument and Equipment Insurance, Accident Insurance, Tax Investigation Insurance, and Professional Indemnity Insurance for music teachers.

Explore our member services

  • Get public liability insurance for musicians
  • Access expert legal support
  • Be represented in your profession
  • Access expert career advice, resources, and training events
  • Connect, network, and get to know the community of musicians

Learn about all membership benefits

Get MU membership today

Continue reading

Close up of someone composing. They are holding an acoustic guitar while sat in front of a computer screen and keyboard, whilst also writing notes on a tablet.

MU Welcomes BBC’s New Commissioning Guidelines for Media Composers

New commissioning guidelines developed by the MU, BBC, BBC Studios Music Publishing and The Ivors Academy will help media composers better understand the BBC's commissioning process, with clearer guidance on contracts, rights, pitching and the use of AI.

Published: 17 September 2026

Read more about MU Welcomes BBC’s New Commissioning Guidelines for Media Composers
A light blue background with white blocks featuring a speech bubble and three dots inside, representing talking. There is one block above them which has a red stop sign inside.

MU Reiterates Position on Freedom of Expression and Discrimination

In light of recent cases in which artists have had performances cancelled after expressing personal political views, the MU has reiterated its position on freedom of expression, political speech and opposition to all forms of hate and discrimination.

Published: 16 September 2026

Read more about MU Reiterates Position on Freedom of Expression and Discrimination
The back of a crowd of people holding black placards which show a fist holding crunched up paper with the text

Join the MU at Birmingham’s Unity Rally

On Sunday 4 October, the MU Midlands region will join more than 60 organisations, affiliated TUC trade unions, community groups and charities in Birmingham for a rally celebrating unity over division and hate. MU members are encouraged to join us on the day.

Published: 16 September 2026

Read more about Join the MU at Birmingham’s Unity Rally
A suitcase with an EU and UK flag sticker on, covered in red tape.

New Report Highlights £208 Million Cost of Brexit Touring Barriers

Research commissioned by the Government estimates that Brexit-related touring barriers cost the UK touring sector £208 million and nearly 2,500 jobs between 2022 and 2024, prompting renewed calls for practical solutions to make EU touring more viable.

Published: 11 September 2026

Read more about New Report Highlights £208 Million Cost of Brexit Touring Barriers