Roundtable breakthroughs with the Secretary of State Oliver Dowden

At our recent roundtable with the Secretary of State on outdoor performances on 1st April, we lobbied for deregulating many aspects of live performance, including allowing live outdoor performances at pubs and restaurants in Step 2. We're very pleased that Oliver Dowden listened to the arguments, and the DCMS has updated the performing arts regulations to allow performances at pubs and restaurants from 12th April.

We also lobbied the Sec of State to ensure that the guidance given to councils on Temporary Events Notices is made clearer, so that arbitrary decisions don't result in a postcode lottery. We were thus very pleased to hear that the new guidance now includes strict criteria for grounds of refusal, and a protocol which includes the applicants in process better.

Whilst we welcome all the above, we feel the government is still being too cautious on the reopening of the performing arts outdoors, and urge the government to adopt our other recommendations.