National lockdown: stay at home 

England is still in a national lockdown.  Please stay at home, leaving only where permitted by law and follow the rules. 

Some of the rules on what you can and cannot do changed on 8 March: 

• you can spend time in outdoor public spaces for recreation on your own, with your household or support bubble, or with one other person. This means you can sit down for a drink or picnic. You must continue to maintain social distance from those outside your household. This is in addition to outdoor exercise, which is already permitted 
• pupils and students in all schools and Further Education settings should return to face-to-face education  

• wraparound childcare can reopen and other children’s activities can restart only where it is needed to enable parents to work, attend education, seek medical care or attend a support group. Vulnerable children can attend childcare and other children’s activities in all circumstances 
• students on practical Higher Education courses at English universities who have not already returned and would be unable to complete their courses if they did not return to take part in practical teaching, access specialist facilities or complete assessments will be able to return  
• there will continue to be restrictions on international travel. Holidays will not be a permitted reason to travel 
• those seeking to leave the UK must complete an outbound declaration of travel form ahead of departure 
• the rules on visiting care homes have changed to allow regular indoor visits for a single named visitor. 

The Brentwood Borough Council Ceremonies Room has limited capacity in order to comply with the COVID secure requirements set by the Government. 

The following are the maximum attendees at the Town Hall to a wedding including the bride and groom, or ceremony for civil partnership couples, providing the four tests set by Government are achieved: 

• 8 March to 28 March 2021: Only 6 attendees for exceptional circumstances weddings and ceremonies
• 29 March to 11 April 2021: Only 6 attendees for weddings and ceremonies 
• 12 April to 20 June 2021:  Only 10 attendees for weddings and ceremonies 

• 21 June 2021 until further notice: If the COVID secure requirements are removed by government, then a maximum of 25 attendees will be possible for weddings or ceremonies. These are indicative of the four tests by Government being successful but, may be changed or amended as required by the Government and the Council to permit the proportionate number of attendees. 

What are the four tests? 

1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
4. The assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new variants of concern. 

Further information is available on our website or if you would like to enquire about holding a wedding or ceremony at the Town Hall, please telephone during office opening hours Monday - Friday on 01277 312736.